First off, did you know that this inauguration day was a palindrome? A palindrome is a word, phrase, or sequence that reads the same backward as forward. Therefore 1-20-2021 is the same backwards or forwards.
My Illinois teacher friend sent me a letter telling me not to open it until the day of the inauguration.
Since I do try to follow teacher directions, I did as she asked.
I was expecting confetti or streamers, but burst out laughing when I found toilet paper.
But things didn't stay that way.
Prejudice raised its ugly head 8 years later.
Sadly, for the last couple of years seeing the American flag and especially red colored hats made me sad and often embarrassed.
Yesterday, I was feeling more pride again that we had survived another horrible time in American history. And yet, there's caution too because we still have almost half of the United States who voted to continue with the status quo. Muslim terrorists have often been referred to as radicalized. Don't you think those people who stormed the capitol were RADICALIZED terrorists?
And here is someone who is over-the-moon happy that President Biden was inaugurated yesterday. She feels America can hold its head up high again. We celebrated with a carry-out dinner from her favorite Japanese restaurant (and plum wine from her son and daughter-in-law).
President Biden and Vice President Harris have a monumental job ahead and it's wonderful to see they started on Day 1. I'm hoping we shall see the sun come out for our nation once again.
I am feeling a combination of relief and just pure happiness. I hope Americans will start being civilized with each other again. I liked the Put that behind You item that your friend mailed to you. It made me chuckle. I remember having this same kind of feeling when President Carter was elected.
ReplyDeleteI was so moved by everything about the inauguration, even the fact that Biden's speech did not gloss over the problems and hard work to come. He didn't say he alone could fix it but invited us all to work together.
ReplyDeleteI love the pictures of happy family. My family was celebrating too.
I love palindromes, and I love the new direction. A weight has been lifted.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely feeling some relief this morning, Trump was 4 years of feeling dread every day when I first turned on my computer or tv. I remember VERY WELL when Obama first won, downtown Pittsburgh had a big celebration the Friday following the election. My entire work-group stayed downtown after work to attend, and we were all caught up in the cheers and confetti, and I thought wow, this country is finally moving on past bigotry and the like... and then our boss (who was there with us) said "Someday we're going to pay for this day. Our next president will be the worst we've ever seen. Just wait." It took 8 years for Trump to get here, but he came alright. How did my boss know what was coming...
ReplyDeleteAs Amanda Gorman said we have to be the light. I am hopeful again.
ReplyDeleteSo you think prejudices only started after Obama left office? I think prejudices have always been around. If you can only see them when your party isn't in office, probably means you are prejudiced but just in the opposite way.
ReplyDeleteBelieve me, I did NOT think prejudice began only after Obama left office. I’m not that stupid. I didn’t pay much attention to it when I was growing up because I grew up in a rather homogeneous sugar plantation camp. White people were rich, we were poor. But the people in my neighborhood were all more or less the same. Once I left home to go to college and then moved to the mainland, I clearly saw prejudice and experienced it painfully. When Obama came into office, I was hopeful that perhaps our country was starting to see the light of acceptance. So yes, I was naive, but I feel Trump stoked the always latent prejudices and hatred that has always been there.
DeleteYes, Kay!
DeleteI guess right now, I see a lot of prejudices being laid out by many democrat supporters assuming that anyone who didn't vote for Biden was voting for "status quo" as you alluded to above. I know many people who are Republicans that absolutely hated Trump but voted for him anyway. They aren't hate mongers, or racists, but people who felt that by voting for Trump might give them a chance as seeing their political ideals realized where as the chances might be slim with Biden as president. It just sticks in my craw to read posts where people assume they are in the majority because their party won when the largest political group in this country are independents and who have swayed the last 50 years of elections depending on our desires for more centrist politics. Those who vote for a democrat or republican candidate just because that is their political party, are the minority. Sorry Kay for getting political. I truly want out nation to heal and be more civilized politically and step one to do that is not lumping everyone who didn't vote for Biden into one group and saying they voted for more of Trumps antics when that wasn't the case from my perspective somewhere here in the middle.
DeleteWhen I said "status quo" I meant Trump. Just Trump. If a Republican hated Trump and still voted him, that's sad. It would mean they voted for his "antics" as well. I have a dear friend who voted for Trump with just one issue. Abortion. Never mind that Trump didn't care about 400,000 people dying of COVID. Never mind that there are people who are against abortion, but also against helping those who are then financially strapped because they can't care for all their children or for a child who was severely handicapped. I don't think any democrat feels they are in a huge majority. They have to know better since the election results showed that. Please don't apologize for being political, Ed. We have to listen to each other. I think that was President Biden's inauguration message of unity. I think being Independent is good. You should choose the candidate who is the best person for the job. Period.
DeleteI think we will have to agree to disagree on this one. Would you consider a vote for Bill Clinton (whom I voted for twice) was a vote in favor of his antics with Monica? I voted for Clinton not because he was a sexually immoral person but because I felt he was the better person to lead the country in the direction I think it needed to be going. I'm guessing you and others probably voted for Clinton for the same reasons and likewise, that should carry over to Trump and that someone could vote for Trump leading a party and not be in favor of his antics.
DeleteI do not in any shape, brain or form compare Clinton to Trump.
DeleteIt was so marvelous - the whole day went off without incidents, just celebrations!
ReplyDeleteSo nice to be without the daily "what the what" every day on the news. I felt so much lighter after yesterday.
ReplyDeleteAm giving it a year, maybe less, when the aged-out hippies start complaining about increased heating bills, higher taxes and medical expenses (what is it with old people, going on about their aches and pains...ugh!). Yep, 2021 is going to be an interesting year.
ReplyDelete"The growth in the annual deficit under Trump ranks as the third-biggest increase, relative to the size of the economy, of any U.S. presidential administration, according to a calculation by a leading Washington budget maven, Eugene Steuerle, co-founder of the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center."
DeleteTrump has given tax breaks to the wealthy and corporations and not done all that much for the poor. Not all seniors were hippies, by the way. Yes, seniors do share aches and pains, but I hope others can listen with kindness and empathy rather than scorn.
You are very much right that it has increased dramatically under Trump. But to be fair, nearly half of the 7 trillion national debt increase under Trump was for pandemic relief (and not near enough according to the Democratic party). Had it not been for that, his debt increase would be a lot more modest and below Obama's $4.7 trillion increase.
DeleteYou had me looking up more about the national debt and what Trump could have/should have done before the pandemic and it made my head hurt. I'm sorry, but I can't argue economy. I mentioned it to Art and he started going on the topic and I had to step away. Sorry.
DeleteI freely admit being a fiscal conservative which is why it shocked me a bit to see someone whom I am assuming if fairly democrat leaning using the national debt against the republican party. Had the democrats controlled congress, there would be another 4 trillion tacked onto that debt due to Covid and indeed, Biden is already proposing another $2 trillion deal. These numbers stagger me. But I have also come to realize that after Bush Jr. and Trump (who certainly didn't attempt to balance the budget as promised), the republicans no longer have any moral authority on trying to reduce our country's debt. They are just as likely to spend more money as their democratic competitors.
DeleteI should also clarify here that I think Trump/republicans did an abhorrent job in how they chose to spend the money to help cushion the impact of the pandemic. I think most of it should have gone directly to those who lost jobs or became unemployed and not to those of us who still hold jobs or to large businesses who were profitable even without the added funds.
We both agree with you on this.
DeleteI am with your mom, Kay. I feel I can be proud of America again, and feel a bit safer. Yes, there is work to do, there is a pandemic to fight, but just knowing that the adults are in charge makes me feel better. My parents, though long gone, would be thrilled to see the new presidency taking place. These were people who fought against racism in the 50s and 60s and would have been shocked to see what the previous administration drug us through.
ReplyDeleteIt was a wonderful ceremony yesterday, just perfect. I realize some bloggers are pro-Trump. Some are anti-vaccination. The road ahead is just as complex.
ReplyDeleteI think relief is what framed my whole day. Relief that there was no violence and relief that the huge weight that hung on our necks for 4 years was finally gone. I have hope for America once more.
ReplyDeleteTrump gave the racists who were already there (many of them) license to come out of hiding. It has certainly been a wake up call for me. People I considered kind and intelligent have shown their true colors. Although I can't put that genie back in the bottle, I am happy and relieved that grown ups are back in charge. Will I completely agree with everything Biden does? No. But he is a million times better than Trump. Your mom looks so delighted!!
ReplyDeleteThe first thing he did was to rejoin the Paris Accord. I am so "over the moon."
ReplyDeleteMom KNOWS! I'm so grateful for this day. Yes. The insurrectionists who stepped up did us all a favor. Now we can go after them. It is hopeful. The storm has broken, I feel, dear
ReplyDeleteLOVE KC's cute hat! And, if your Mom's happy, then things have gotta be alright! I watched almost all of the festivities. I LOVED how they filled the grounds with lit-up flags and the beautiful lights at the reflecting pool. That was so cool that the 3 civilized past presidents (since Carter couldn't be there,) did the video of thoughts and wishes for Biden. I was hoping the 3 past presidents and their spouses might have greeted the Bidens at the White House, since the wimpy jerk couldn't do it, but the logistics might have not been possible. At least decorum and class have returned! Biden's diversity in the Cabinet is impressive. Linda in corny Kansas (I didn't vote for the goofy ones from Kansas....)
ReplyDeleteI liked what one of the commentators was saying how Biden understands that running the country is a team effort requiring the knowledge of many experts, scientists, talented organizers, etc. It can't be done by one person (I crossed out egomaniac) who says he'll call all the shots and fire anybody who doesn't agree with him.
DeleteI agree that it's sad the Trumps couldn't do the gracious, traditional thing to invite the new tenants to the White House and show them around. It's all about the "transfer of power" that the U.S. is supposed to show the world.
Oh, but I think the planners did a beautiful job of showing the world that our transfer of power can happen smoothly without the jerk bothering the festivities! Linda in Kansas
Deletewhat a relief. i couldn't be happier. well, maybe when they are all behind bars! i'm glad you celebrated with your mom!
ReplyDeleteI am interested to see that the most often emotion expressed was one of relief. That was my primary emotion too. I second what Patti said. And I like it that you are speaking out to critics who are posting on your post.
ReplyDeleteIt was a peaceful happy day to begin over in rebuilding America!
ReplyDeleteDitto for Arkansas Patti's words, she just said it perfectly for me, too.
ReplyDeleteI've said it elsewhere: decency has returned to the Oval Office. After four years of hell.
ReplyDeleteI hope that decency returns again. Tremendous damage was done to the country. It will take a while to get back to improving things.
ReplyDeleteIt was a beautiful day yesterday. May the universe be kind to the President, his Vice President and the USA.
ReplyDeleteHurray!!!
ReplyDeleteI, too, am so relieved with the election outcome. I continue to find it difficult to understand how we have so many people in our nation that could support the previous President as revealed by the vote tally. I think about future years and how fragile our democracy is. I think about what we must do from this day forward to move this nation forward, increasing the progress I thought we had made in valuing one another — our similarities and our differences. We must keep acting in a manner to to achieve the promise of our constitution. We are an unfinished young nation as the brilliant young poet reminded us in her poem at the inauguration, so must keep striving to influence more to find their better selves.
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