Biden: ‘This is democracy’s day’

An American flag in Woodstock, Vermont, during the Fourth of July. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

Before a silent National Mall but with a message of hope, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris were sworn in as the new president and vice president of the United States on Wednesday. With that accomplished, history was made: Harris officially became the first African American, the first Asian American and the first woman to hold the country's second-highest public office.

The historic moment gave joy to millions, but it was not before the usual inauguration crowd of thousands. Amid heightened security and the pandemic, the National Mall was instead filled with a majestic public art display of nearly 200,000 flags — including American flags, and flags from every state and territory — representing the many people who couldn’t be there to share the moment. With applause from the smaller, distanced gathering assembled, Biden took to the podium to address the nation for the first time as its 46th president.

"This is America's day, this is democracy's day, a day of history and hope, a day of renewal and resolve," Biden said.

That resolve was severely tested in recent months, during an election fraught with unproven allegations of election fraud and swirling conspiracy theories. Rage about the election result fueled the mob attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, in which supporters of former president Donald Trump tried to derail the Congressional process to complete the certification of the presidential election. That attempt failed, as Biden noted, but he put it in a larger context, about the power of the country's foundation.

"Today, we celebrate the triumph not of a candidate, but of a cause: the cause of democracy," Biden declared. "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, and at this hour my friends, democracy has prevailed."

Unity was the main theme, and a quality Biden said the country greatly needs. He acknowledged there are Americans who are not pleased that he was in office, and calls for unity often ring hollow today.

"I know speaking of unity can sound to some like a foolish fantasy these days. I know the forces that divide us are deep and they are real, but I also know they are not new," Biden said.

He noted that through the Civil War, the Great Depression, World Wars, 9/11 and other dark times, we've overcome challenges together.

"Through struggle, sacrifices and setbacks, our better angels have always prevailed," Biden pointed out.

Going forward, he said Americans must guard against "lies told for power and profit" and speak up for truth.

"We must stop the culture in which facts themselves are manipulated and even manufactured," Biden insisted.

The president also spoke directly to those who voted against him.

"Hear me out, as we move forward. Take a measure of me and my heart, and if you still disagree, so be it. That's democracy. That's America," Biden said. "The right to dissent peaceably within the guardrails of our republic is perhaps this nation's greatest strength. Yet hear me clearly, disagreement must not lead to disunion, and I pledge this to you: I will be a president for all Americans."

All Americans, in one way or another, have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and Biden led a brief moment of silence for those who lost their lives, their families and the country. As he did several times, the president pointed out the simultaneous challenges we face, including threats to democracy and truth, the pandemic, systemic racism, growing inequity and climate change.

"Any one of these would be enough to challenge us in profound ways, but the fact is, we face them all at once, presenting this nation with one of the gravest responsibilities we've had," Biden said.

He urged people to set aside politics and forge a united front against the coronavirus.

"In the work ahead of us, we're going to need each other, need all our strength to persevere through this dark winter," he cautioned.

Biden also recalled a different January, in 1863, that also saw rife division throughout the land. It was the month that President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. Upon doing so, he said, "If my name ever goes down into history, it will be for this act, and my whole soul is in it."

"Today, on this January day, my whole soul is in this: bringing America together, uniting our people, uniting our nation," he said. "And I ask every American to join me in this cause."

Biden also pledged to put the people first in his work as president.

"I'll keep everything I do in your service, thinking not of power but of possibilities, not personal interest but the public good, and together, we shall write an American story of hope not fear, of unity not division, of light not darkness, a story of decency and dignity, love and healing, greatness and goodness,” the president said. “May this be the story that guides us, the story that inspires us, and the story that tells ages yet to come that we answered the call of history."

Powerful moments of reflection surfaced when National Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman shared her stunning poem, "The Hill We Climb", becoming the youngest inaugural poet in the nation's history at 22. Gorman recalled the events of Jan. 6 and the resiliency that followed, saying "while democracy can be periodically delayed, it can never be permanently defeated."

Her message was poignant, created for the nation, the world, and this era, as it looked also to the future:

"Let the globe, if nothing else, say this is true: That even as we grieved we grew, that even as we hurt we hoped, that even as we tired we tried, that we'll forever be tied together, victorious. Not because we will never again know defeat, but because we will never again sow division."

— Gareth Henderson