January 20 Inauguration Day

“It is my pleasure to introduce the forty-sixth President of the United States, Joseph R Biden Junior.” The words echoed in the cab of my truck over my radio as I cruised the Coquihalla Highway to Kamloops this morning. A smile crossed my face as a moment many have looked forward to came to pass. Trump was no longer the so-called leader of the ‘free’ world. Joe Biden was now the new ring leader of the American political circus.

Some people rejoiced the replacement of Trump, some mourned his loss and mope in their own denial. Neither are wrong, everyone has a right to their opinion. Unfortunately, their opinions have become more polarized in the last four years. To a point where some chose insurrection over concession.

As a Canadian, I was amazed at how much American politics has taken over our airwaves. I shook my head and sighed, the last four years have felt like a bad reality show originating south of our border. With the newly elected president, the show goes on.

I know the election of a seventy-eight-year-old career politician is hardly the solution to the complex problems facing our friends to the south. America is a nation full of wealth and power, poverty and inequality, a place where a woman of African, Asian descent can become the vice-president. It’s also a place where a black man can have his life snuffed out by a policeman with an attitude. Can the oldest president fix the myriad of issues facing his country and our world? I hope, I hope.

Twelve years ago hope came along in the form of the first Black president, Barack Obama. I felt like the world could only get better for my American friends.

It didn’t.

At first, the love affair was real, he wasn’t Bush and he said all the right things. But in the world of nonstop American politics, he couldn’t seem to get very much actually done. His legacy was a frustrating and difficult universal health-care system. After the insurance companies got involved the only people getting anything out of health care were those same insurance companies.

After eight years in office, the inevitable push-back occurred and the reality TV host Donald Trump came to power. What a ride those last four years were. I do understand the appeal Trump has for many people. I know some ardent fans of his, they are good, loving people. He did many good things for his country but the division and vitriol came to a crashing end when his followers stormed the capitol building two weeks ago. Today he left for the sunny climes of Florida with his tail between his legs. Not surprisingly he was the first president in 150 years to not attend the inauguration of his successor.

Strange days indeed.

Cruising back from Kamloops after finishing my job I tuned into the radio once more. Highlights were broadcast with sound bites from Biden’s speech. The old guy had some good writers and he sounded pretty good on the airwaves.

I returned home to my loving family, I felt safe from the world of American politics and pandemics. Then I sat down and watched the entire twenty-minute speech from Joe Biden.

It began with him slowly walking up to the podium. He looked every bit his seventy-eight years. He stood at the dais, trying to remain focused and clear. He did a very good job memorizing the lines of his speech; he only stumbled a few times. It was hard not to see the years on his face, it made me wonder if he can make his eighty-sixth birthday in office let alone his eightieth. At least every third word wasn’t uh or um, unlike our fearless leader here in Canada.

Historic times we live in.

Another moment in history passed today, The USA has a new president who is again promising hope and change. An old president left, claiming he lost unfairly. I hope they can put it all behind them. I hope he can lead his country into the next decade.

I hope he doesn’t drop dead of a heart attack.

The reality show of American politics continued. My Trumpster buddy warned me this was how “they” planned to get a female in as president, a bonus is she is black and Asian. I think the most important thing is, can she do the job? After I watched him walk away from the podium and leave the stage, the possibility is real. Will Joe Biden make it for one full term? Was Kamella installed as the VP so they can get the first woman president? Questions abound.

The new POTUS did a good job reading a speech for the ages, read by a man who is aged. The message was clear: Americans need to unite, to heal, and to gain strength in unity.

I hope the dream can become a reality… hope. It seemed like twelve years ago was only yesterday… The message of hope reverberated north from the hallowed halls of American politics. We stand on the edge of an abyss in history, Did Biden just pull America back from the cusp? Or is he the one to lead them off the edge?

Together in North America and the world, we face global problems that can only be solved at a local level. I embrace the message put forth by this ancient rich white guy; unity. It is as a united world working together that we can face down the monumental problems of our times. Pandemic, climate change, poverty, and injustice need everyone to work together, to sacrifice some of their own prosperity for the greater good.  

History will be our judge.