Today is the inauguration of President Joe Biden and Vice-President Kamala Harris. In our household, we are each watching it live on our own computers while working. And no surprise, it's got me thinking. So I'm typing this out as the inauguration ceremony is happening.
During the anthem and the pledge, I found myself tearing up. Because I'm a sentimental sap, and despite everything, I am patriotic. I do love my country, despite my disappointment in it, and its people, so frequently and consistently.
Years ago, I wouldn't have bothered watching the inauguration ceremony, because I 'didn't do politics'. And because my watching it would make no difference to the machine rolling along. I voted, but I knew my vote didn't mean a lot, because I'm in Tennessee, and it's a pretty sure thing where our votes would go to.
Except the last few years have changed my opinions and my patriotism. I've become a lot more interested in politics the last few years, for a few reasons. I started paying attention when I became part of the queer community, and realized how piercing the effect of politics was on the lives of people I knew and cared about. I started paying closer attention when Trump was campaigning for the office, and the horror of the idea he could win began to settle throughout my community. I think age brings us more awareness of how politics affect us, especially as we gain a better hold on our own opinions and desires, and see how political decisions affect not only ourselves, but others.
When Trump actually won, I found in myself a huge disappointment in the people of my country - I just thought they were better. I needed to believe in them to be wiser, more caring for one another. They are not - people, especially in groups, are selfish and shortsighted and driven by hatred, especially hatred of those different from themselves. When the pandemic hit, I found even more disappointment in the way people - as individuals as well as groups - handled the situation and themselves. The last several years have been a terrible coming to awareness of just how awful and selfish people can be.
And then we sang the anthem and pledged allegiance to our United States. I remembered the patriotic hopefulness of a much younger, more innocent me. I recognized the discouragement deep in my soul regarding the people around me. And yet, I also felt a singular love and hope and cheer pledging to my country and seeing the machine travel along, despite setbacks. And there are tears in my eyes. We can be better. Right?
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