Here are Joe Biden’s watchwords. Mario Sechi’s notebook

21 January 20213 years ago babelfish

The oath of the new president of the United States, Joe Biden, as seen by Mario Sechi, director of Agi

Change the president, change the weather.

It was snowing in Washington DC but when Joe Biden swore the sun came out. Someone says it's a good omen.

The challenges are "historical", as Biden himself points out, and the main road is that of unity: "We must face this moment as the United States of America", "we must put an end to this uncivilized war that sees the reds against the blue, the conservatives against the liberals ”.

The new commander-in-chief promises to be "the president of all", even of those who did not vote for him.

"To face these challenges, heal the soul of the nation and ensure the future of America, words are not enough, we need the most elusive element in a democracy: unity", Biden warns, committing himself to relaunch the economy , fight climate change, ensure racial justice and heal divisions. Donald Trump snubbed the inauguration of his successor as he hadn't in 150 years, flying to Florida and promising to "return in some form".

In his speech, which lasted about twenty minutes, Biden urges us to turn the page, "to stop screaming, to lower the temperature", after 4 years of divisive rhetoric. "We can treat each other with dignity and respect," says Biden, stressing that the Capitol itself has been the scene of violent protests.

“This is America's day, it's the day of democracy”, proclaims the new president but pointing out that there is “much to repair”. Starting with international alliances, with America wanting to become a reliable partner for peace and security again. “America has been tested – and the indirect thrust against Trump – but we will come out stronger.
We will mend our alliances and return to engage with the world, leading by example ”.

Stigmatizing his predecessor for instigating the assault on Congress, Biden urges us to reject "the culture of manipulated or invented facts". The latest events “have been painful and have taught us a hard truth: there are facts and there are lies. Lies told for power and profit. We all have responsibilities as citizens. Americans, and especially leaders, must honor the Constitution and protect the nation ”.

During his speech, Biden observed a moment of silence to pay tribute to the coronavirus deaths. Before the oath, in the hands of Chief Judge John Roberts and using the same family Bible as the Vice President's oath, Biden, the second Catholic White House tenant after John Kennedy, had attended mass at St.
Matthews, the same where the funeral of the killed predecessor in Dallas took place.

Vice President Kamala Harris, who broke the glass ceiling as the first female, first black person of Indian descent in this role, chose to swear in the hands of Sonia Sotomayor, the first Hispanic judge of the Supreme Court.

Harris wore a purple outfit, also in homage to Shirley Chisholm, the first black woman to run for the presidency of the United States. The ceremony at the Capitol opened with the national anthem sung by Lady Gaga, with a huge dove-shaped pin on her jacket, as a sign of peace. It closed with the blessing of Reverend Silvester Beaman who, echoing Biden's words, declared: “We will become friends with our enemies”.

(Extract from the article published by the Agi; here the full version )

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Here are Joe Biden’s watchwords. Mario Sechi’s notebook

The oath of the new president of the United States, Joe Biden, as seen by Mario Sechi, director of Agi

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