14 Comments
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Marianne's avatar

Providing a historical context to today's events is helpful, even hopeful. But nonetheless I am struck by the irony of the peaceful transfer of power to a man who did his very best to violently wrest the outcome of the 2020 election from the American people.

I will not be watching today. Instead I will be making calls to my Congressional representatives, asking for their vigilant protection of democracy. I will be thinking about what I, one citizen, can do during the next four years. I will read some of MLK's speeches and wonder what he would ask of me.

We must keep Trump from making the concerns of our Founding Fathers into a reality.

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Rosemary Ford's avatar

As Rudyard Kipling said, “If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs …”

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TSanwhat's avatar

Thanks for stepping back from the emotions of the day and pointing out that the system has survived … despite the humans that have tried to break it.

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Jennifer Bresett's avatar

Because a Felon Rapist Thief stole the election HE FUCKING ADMITTED IT YESTERDAY! what a farce. #Luigi that fuck

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Brad Van Arnum's avatar

How exactly did he steal the election, Jennifer? Comments like this come off as unhinged and do nothing to help.

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Kasumii's avatar

While I understand your take on what you have written here today it is not a day worth celebrating. I do agree that today is extraordinary but not for the same reason you do. It is extraordinary because today America becomes a fascist led theocracy. It is extraordinary because all those who failed to hold trump accountable for actual sedition and treason will be sitting there acting like all is normal.

Today is a pivot point in our country’s history. It pivots toward hatred writ large, extreme corruption, the robbing of our Treasury and our nation’s treasures, grinding all the non-1%r’s into dust, expanding racism, bigotry, misogyny, transphobia & every other phobia against people who aren’t male, white & cisgender. All the ugliness humans are capable of takes control today. There is nothing worth celebrating about any of that.

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Diane C's avatar

Gabe, although today is not a happy one for me, I continue to enjoy your history lessons. If you ever get tired of journalism (doubtful), you would make a gifted social studies educator. Sorry you missed your first inauguration as a credentialed reporter. Stay warm!

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Michael Kupperburg's avatar

Today a President was inaugurated. Neither he nor she were my choices, but like it or not, Trump is now my President, and for my country, must wish him the best. The best we can do is just watch, without judging, and see how it goes. Then when it is over, decide whether it was good or bad.

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Nancy's avatar

Nothing to celebrate on this day.

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Judy Parrish's avatar

Unless you switched time zones in your write up (and actually not even then), the Bidens can't leave Joint Base Andrews at 2 pm and arrive in California at 4 pm. It's a 5+-hour flight! Or maybe the SST has been resurrected? Regardless, thanks for the reminder of how extraordinary our political system is. It's good to be reminded from time to time just how powerfully unusual the peaceful transfer of power has been.

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susanus's avatar

It’s a 5 hour flight and a 3 hour time difference.

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Michael Cunningham's avatar

You write " and for the country, marking our 60th consecutive peaceful transfer of power,..''

So the 2021 turnover to Biden was considered to be a "PEACEFUL transfer of power?" Seems to call into question how peaceful is defined in this context. Certainly not the normal dictionary definition: 'untroubled by conflict, agitation, or commotion; devoid of violence or force.' Or does peaceful only apply to the one day the new President is sworn in?

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sandy's avatar

It is indeed NOT a 60th consecutive peaceful transfer of power!!!! 1/6 Capitol insurrection and election denial, attempts to overturn and usurp our government. Horrible mistake in your writing. Don’t need to follow you anymore. Thanks

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Barbara Fox's avatar

U are obviously overjoyed

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