A global pandemic, an outgoing president who does not accept the result of the elections, an assault on the Capitol a few days after the inauguration of the president-elect … They provoke an exceptional ceremony even within the exceptionality in which we live lately.
On the day that marks 60 years since President Kennedy was sworn in, we review the exceptionalities of a national holiday marked both by the lack of large masses celebrating and by the high security measures, 25,000 agents. Double than in previous ones.
Compared to Kennedy’s inauguration, Biden’s has been a sobriety party. No parades, with a very small number of guests and a very peculiar audience 200,000 American flags representing its citizens. What will continue this year is the tradition of inviting a poet that JKF started by choosing Robert Frost, who at 86 was not able to read the poem he had written and moved the country by reciting The Gift Outright from memory.
At 17:57 (Spanish time) Joe Biden became the 46th president of the United States. In his speech, he invited Americans to demonstrate that politics was not a crossfire but rather to work on the same path that is to make the country grow. He mentioned the assault on the Capitol “they will not be able to do it, not today, not tomorrow, not ever.” Thanks to those who voted and outstretched to those who did not. Promise to be the president of “all Americans.” Historical review with a nod to feminist conquests, freedom and the truth in the face of fakenews. His responsibility as leaders when it comes to defending the truth. Unity as a banner. Call for empathy to “put yourself in the other’s shoes”. Mention to the importance of the Coronavirus and to face it together as one country. Repair alliances, reach out. “Not old challenges, challenges of today and tomorrow. Not the example of our power, yes the power of our example. Tribute to the 400,000 deceased by the pandemic.
Away from polemics and speeches against or disruptive. Building.
A very varied cultural representation adapted to the circumstances. A discreet Lady Gaga -within her particular style- hers, bright and with a voice at the height of her mission: to sing the American anthem. Ending her performance “and the home of the braves” pointing to her compatriots. Jennifer López of Latin descent sang the classics This land is your land and America the beautiful and took advantage of a silence between the stanzas to launch a message in perfect Spanish “a nation under God, indivisible and with freedom and justice for all.” Folklore also has had its space from the hand of the country artist Garth Brooks and his interpretation of the evangelical hymn Amazing Grace.
Although all expectations were on Amanda Gorman, a 22-year-old poet and activist who has not disappointed with her intervention. The youngest poet in the history of the investiture has conquered social networks with her poem “The hill we climb”, where she states “somehow we have resisted and we have witnessed a nation that is not broken, but just unfinished. ” An ode to unity in a fragmented country in the face of recent events.
A hopeful future.
