He’s a flawed man. A broken man. He is President. He’s US commander-in-chief. His vice is a lady, the first woman VP, first African America, and first Asian American.
We know them. They were elected by the sheer will of the people, and as he said: “This is America’s day. This is democracy’s day. A day of history and hope, of renewal and resolve. At this hour, my friends, democracy has prevailed.”
In many ways, that is true. If every vote counts, then 7 million more votes weighed in on the scale of democracy and the people’s wishes and hopes were thus heard.
Honestly, the last 4 years went by like a whirlwind leaving many things still spinning wildly on the ground. The pandemic that has taken 400,000 lives still rages on, unabated. The economy has spun out of its planned orbit. And the wedge between white supremacists and the rest has been driven deep with open animosity that will take years, even decades, to resolve.
In the past 4 years, many old wounds were forcibly opened and they will take much more than 4 years to heal. Some of his strategists had in fact asked him to go fast, and be bold when he takes on the reins of leadership.
Admittedly, much is on his presidential plate and he needs to think not 4-year time-frame but two, when addressing the urgent and complex issues at hand. Such is the “scorched earth” mindset to counter the aftermath of what seems to be the remnants of a hurricane.
But let’s return to the man. We know his name. But, do we know what he has gone through in 50 years in politics and the social justice movement? Do we know why at 79, after 50 years, he is still going?
In one of his speeches, he called this time “the season of darkness”. Yet, optimism was never beyond reach for this man. He quoted Ella Baker, the icon of civil rights, who once said, “Give people light and they will find a way.” Indeed, democracy and honest and resolute leadership are the light in this season of darkness. For truth shines, lies darken.
Alas, in darkness, the tendency is to grope in fear. You never know where the plunge is, or how to skirt pass it. You have no light; you have no guide. But all it takes is a fickle, a glow and a hope, even at the distance, you are suddenly no longer lost, but found, rescued. That is the power of Ella’s metaphor, “Give them light, and they will find their way out”.
That has always been his lodestar, his motivation from the start, even in the early 1970s when he was first elected to Congress. Then, he was a young spitball, struggling with the inner demons of self, ego and big dreams. He has put his foot in his mouth many times, even during the presidential race, which was incidentally his third. Yes, he aimed for the highest office thrice. I guess third time’s a charm.
This man is flawed no doubt. He changed horses midstream in his dealing with the civil rights, women and the rights of the poor vs the rich. But this is also the same man who suffered - early in his political career - the death of his wife and two daughters in a car accident. And in 2015, his beloved son, Beau, passed on in his forties.
Although brought up to believe in a benevolent God, when the car accident happened and took away his loved ones, he said: “Well, I didn’t want to hear anything about a merciful God. No words, no prayers, no sermons gave me ease. I felt God had played a horrible trick on me, and I was angry.” Can you blame him?
Yet, that was about fifty years ago, and this man is still fighting for what he believes in. A number of tragedies may have taken those he loved dearly from him, including the son whom he treasured so much, yet, these words by his father kept his spirit up and faith soldiering on - “The bigger the highs, the deeper the troughs.”
I believe that that is how you confront life. You need the depth to reach the height. You need the valley to aim for the summit. And you need faith and hope to lift you up to level ground, surer foundation.
Today the world, with a small attendance of 1000, congratulates the President of the United States and his Vice President on Inauguration Day. It may be a small physical gathering, but the depth of experience, the breadth of hope and the bightest of lights can be felt in the hearts of millions.
Today we embrace renewed hope and faith in humanity in a man named Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. and his lady co-pilot, Kamala Devi Harris.
God bless America.
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