Inauguration Day.

Inauguration Day: It is very emotional watching the TV coverage of Joe Biden becoming the 46^th US President. Despite the shambles of the last four years, it tells me that America is making steady progress towards being a truly just and fair society. Kamala Harris being sworn in as the first female and black Vice-President demonstrates this. It would have been unthinkable years ago. Lady Gaga singing the National Anthem was amazing, so was Jennifer Lopez singing This Land Is Your Land by Woody Guthrie. Garth Brooks singing Amazing Grace was ok I suppose. A poet called Amanda Gorman who I had never heard of recited a powerful poem called 'The Hill We Climb'. The Rev Dr Sylvester Beaman delivered an emotional benediction. One thing that makes me pleased that Joe Biden is President is that some of his ancestors came from Ballina in County Mayo, Ireland. My family came from County Mayo as well. It was a shame that Jimmy Carter was not well enough to attend.

President Biden made a great historic speech. He did not mention his predecessor, but he is determined to defeat the disunity that the previous one encouraged. “We must end this uncivil war”.  I am pleased that the USA is re-joining the Paris Accord on climate change and the W.H.O. Global warming is a bigger threat even than COVID-19, and we will only get out of this pandemic by all the world working together. Joe Biden has a huge task ahead and at his age it will be exceedingly difficult. I hope he proves to be brilliant at delegating responsibility and putting the best people in very demanding jobs. It will have to be a team affair. I feel a sense of relief today that democracy has prevailed, and the world is hopefully a safer place.