Every four years, America pauses at Noon ET on January 20 to observe the swearing in of the president:
I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States. So help me God.
Immediately before this, the vice president takes a longer oath:
I do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic, that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same: that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion, and I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God.
So much of a nation’s unity is tied to imagery: flag, anthem, monuments, buildings. Beyond chosen symbolism, it is how citizens respond during moments in the timeline of history that define a culture. The American Revolution. The Civil War. The Great Depression. World War II. 9/11. 2020.
Every inauguration is historical by definition. Yesterday’s ceremonies for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris seem more significant for many reasons. When those in a future era reflect back on how we addressed the many challenges before us during this, our time, in history, they will judge us on what we do from here. Starting today. Continuing tomorrow. Ending somewhere down the road.
How will you make this a better place for all?
