American Democracy Prevailed; in Joe Biden, 46th US President

In his inaugural speech, President Biden delivered words of comfort to members of both parties, after living through four years of a Trump presidency… “Politics doesn’t have to be a raging fire… destroying everything in its path.”

President Biden’s inaugural address to the nation; highlights and excerpts:

“This is democracy’s day. A day of history and hope of renewal and resolve through a crucible for the ages. America has been tested anew and America has risen to the challenge. Today, we celebrate the triumph not of a candidate, but of a cause, the cause of democracy. The people, the will of the people, has been heard and the will of the people has been heeded. We’ve learned again that democracy is precious. Democracy is fragile. At this hour, my friends, democracy has prevailed.”

“This is a great nation. We are good people. And over the centuries, through storm and strife, in peace and in war, we’ve come so far. But we still have far to go. We’ll press forward with speed and urgency, for we have much to do in this winter of peril and significant possibilities, much to repair, much to restore, much to heal, much to build, and much to gain.”

“Uniting to fight the foes we face: anger, resentment, hatred, extremism, lawlessness, violence, disease, joblessness and hopelessness. With unity, we can do great things, important things. We can right wrongs. We can put people to work in good jobs. We can teach our children in safe schools. We can overcome the deadly virus. We can reward, reward work and rebuild the middle class and make health care secure for all. We can deliver racial justice and we can make America once again the leading force for good in the world.”

“Hear me out as we move forward, if you still disagree, so be it. That’s democracy.”

“And so today at this time in this place, let’s start afresh, all of us. Let’s begin to listen to one another again. Hear one another see one another, show respect to one another. Politics doesn’t have to be a raging fire, destroying everything in its path. Every disagreement doesn’t have to be a cause for total war. And we must reject the culture in which facts themselves are manipulated and even manufactured.”

“My fellow Americans. We have to be different than this. America has to be better than this. And I believe America is so much better than this. Just look around. Here we stand in the shadow of the Capitol dome, as was mentioned earlier, completed amid the Civil War, when the union itself was literally hanging in the balance. Yet we endured, we prevailed.”

BK: As president Biden seeks “Unity” in the foundation of his governing platform for the nation, that doesn’t mean that the president abandons his agenda just because the opposition disagrees with it. But it does mean that both sides agree to some basic ground rules about how our democracy works.

Trump Fringe Poltiics

BK: President Biden made clear his intentions (the polar-opposite of the previous president’s audience of loyalists, and not a United States of America), as the newly inaugurated President Biden told the American people today:

“Yet hear me clearly: disagreement must not lead to disunion. And I pledge this to you, I will be a president for all Americans.”

BK: Some post-election elements within the Republican party of Trump foresee democratic institutions and norms of governing as obstacles to their end game, and “unity” being equated with surrender. These Republican party elements remain engaged in an undeclared war with America and its democratic values. In a Biden presidency, they will increasingly find themselves isolated with in a media bubble of fringe politics — and for this minority of Americans, President Biden has a message …

“What are the common objects we as Americans love, that define us as Americans? I think we know. Opportunity, security, liberty, dignity, respect, honor and yes, the truth. “Recent weeks and months have taught us a painful lesson.”

“There is truth and there are lies, lies told for power and for profit. And each of us has a duty and responsibility, as citizens, as Americans, and especially as leaders, leaders who have pledged to honor our Constitution and protect our nation, to defend the truth and defeat the lies. “

BK: America is back!