The day was made for television. Narrators introduced every person who appeared in the camera's view. The music, the speeches, every moment was well planned and beautifully executed. Our own Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar charmed and entertained with her humble midwestern humor, humility and grace. The beautiful poet laureate Amanda Gorman stunned us with her words...and with her determined, brilliant smile.
The evening's tv shows continued the celebration, ending with the unbelievable fireworks that closed the night. Has anyone ever seen such a spectacular display of fireworks?
America!
Four years ago I was in Washington DC for the Inauguration of our 45th President of the United States. I had been excited about this day for over a year. Imagine: the inauguration! In person! It was an event I never ever dreamed I'd be able to attend. Never.
I was fully engaged in the entire event. The morning of the inauguration I could hardly contain my excitement. We were participating in a large gathering directly in front of the Capitol - where we would have a full outdoor view of the presentation as well as a 3-story screen indoors to watch every moment! We would be watching the parade, and then dressing up to attend an inaugural ball. (No, not the inaugural ball, but one right down the road.)
The motorcade rolled directly in front of us and I stared in awe at the vehicle we thought carried the Obamas and the Trumps. It was one of those unbelievable things you never imagine you will see in real life. As the former presidents arrived we watched them on the big screen and applauded with the others gathered there. Such an amazing display - seeing all of these people who work so hard for our country - and I was there in person!! Goosebumps!
As President Obama and the First Lady were introduced I experienced something I never dreamed I'd hear. It was the most obnoxious and shocking form of racism I have ever witnessed. Spoken loudly, unabashedly, and unapologetically: basically a "Go home where you came from" type of statement, but with several expletives mixed in. And then loud agreement and laughter from the adults gathered near.
That was such a stunning moment for me. I honestly had never heard those words spoken out loud in public before. And unfortunately, it was not a one-time experience.
In the four years since that moment I have heard even people I call friends repeat these racist statements on facebook. Suddenly people don't seem to mind being cruel and vicious - saying things that we would've punished our own children for saying.
It's gotten bad, folks. And not only have we all been hearing it, to a certain extent we've all been doing it. We've all been dragged into this gutter of name-calling and lies. I can't help but remember that Inauguration Day 2017 was when truth became distorted, and when lies became acceptable. When blaming others, name-calling, and tearing people down was even okay with Christians. What had we become?
But throughout the day yesterday I began to feel more and more hopeful.
This is the America I want to live in. An America where we build others up instead of tearing them down. An America where we point out the good in others. Where we recognize success, value children, speak the truth and seek out good.
I hope that's what you want for America too.
Thank you for the hope! Let's keep it flowing!
And so we lift our gazes not to what stands between us
but what stands before us
We close the divide because we know, to put our future first,
we must first put our differences aside
We lay down our arms
so we can reach out our arms
to one anotherWe seek harm to none and harmony for all-Amanda Gorman "The Hill We Climb"
If you haven't gotten a chance to listen to Amanda Gorman reciting "The Hill We Climb", here's the video.
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