The 46th US Presidential Inauguration: To New Beginnings — Change, Faith & Acceptance
Kamala Devi Harris
What are your thoughts on this historic moment for America? For the world?
Joe Biden and Kamala Devi Harris preach healing and unity for America. They stand for diversity, equality, and inclusion amidst the United States of America. I think this is a long-awaited historic moment for the whole world, not just America. Kamala Harris being the first Black, South Asian Woman to be elected as vice president is such a proud moment for the country. She is also the perfect representation of what they campaigned for. “Today we celebrate the triumph not of a candidate, but of a cause: the cause of democracy, to overcome these challenges, to restore the soul and secure the future of America requires so much more than words. It requires the most elusive of all things in a democracy: unity.”What I loved most about Kamala Harris’s speech was that she said “While I may be the first woman in this office, I won’t be the last.” This line, I believe, restored hope in many lives all over the world.
This historic moment also bodes well for diplomatic relations between India and the USA. That may bode well in terms of relations between eastern and western nations. This is a catalyst for the United States to live up to its intended aim of being a secular nation that is accepting of all. Since the United States is a major stakeholder in the global political landscape, a lot of decisions could impact bilateral relations between various nations for the better in terms of feminism and equal rights for women as a whole. It will dictate the way our society changes for the better.
Feel the Bern: Mitten Memes
Why do you think the Interwebs were flooded with images of Bernie in his handmade mittens?
The photo of the independent Vermont senator donning mittens and a practical brown coat has been transposed across time and place, dropped into historical moments, movie scenes, famous paintings, etc all over the internet. I think the interwebs were flooded with images of Bernie sanders in mittens because, at such tough times, people just want something to laugh about and lighten up. The photo of Bernie Sanders reminded a lot of people of themselves and was very relatable “When I saw Bernie’s photo, he just reminded me of myself in the back of a meeting, waiting for it to be over.” Bernie Sanders also has a very well-defined brand image of being comfortable in what he is and thus this was just “Bernie being Bernie.
What does this tell us about the collective mindset at this time?
This tells us that the collective mindset at the time required a distraction from what was going on in the world. They would laugh at anything, no matter how small or insignificant it was. By this I mean, the picture that became viral was not anything intended, professional, or the best picture ever. It was just something unusual to see at an Inauguration.
What was your favorite Mitten meme? (If you made one of your own, feel free to include).
Lady Gaga
Did you witness Lady Gaga’s performance live? What was your reaction and why do think her appearance significant to the moment?
I was not able to witness Lady Gaga’s performance live, however, I watched it at a later time with my family and we were all blown away. Her voice was so powerful and strong, which I thought was very fitting for the Inauguration. The choice to have her sing the national anthem at the Inauguration was extremely fitting as she had such a controversial personality which really helped show inclusivity of all. She did such an outstanding job while performing, that one can only say it was the perfect way to celebrate new beginnings.
The Hill We Climb
Chose one or two lines from the poem that has particular resonance for you and write an analysis on your blog.
Amanda Gorman’s poem ‘The Hill We Climb’ is a moving depiction of the United States as it was on the cusp of President Biden’s inauguration in 2021. From the beginning to the end of the poem, Gorman uses images of light and darkness, hope and fear, to describe the two opposing sides of America, those who want to divide and those who want to unify. She returns several times to the image of light/darkness and how America is stepping out of the “shade” and turning towards the light. This being a reference to the previous presidential rule of Donald Trump. This is why I believe her delivery captivated so many people.
The line that resonated with me the most was “Not because we will never again know defeat, but because we will never
again sow division.” Through this line, Amanda Gorman says that America and Americans will overcome their differences and be “victorious” not because they will “never again know defeat” but because they “will never again sow division.” They would not, in this scenario, be defeated in their unity. No one is going to turn on their neighbor and that will mean that America will stay strong and true to its ideals. I liked this line because it can relate to so many things. The way I saw it was that over the past few years America went through a tough time because it was divided but now when it is united again they cannot be defeated.
