EDITORIAL By EMMA CASTRO 1/24/21
In the political sphere, the month of January has been quite eventful for our country.
We began the year witnessing the insurrection of our nation’s capital, an attack on both government property and democracy itself (Side note: Check out Nick’s powerful editorial on the insurrection!) In the wake of the attack, many officials have turned their backs on Donald Trump. On January 13, all House Democrats and 10 Republicans voted to impeach Trump a second time. Many officials called to invoke the 25th Amendment to remove Trump from office, but Vice President Mike Pence decided against moving forward with it.
While the year got off to a rocky start in terms of politics, millions of Americans are now celebrating a new administration. Just two weeks after the attack, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris were officially sworn in as president and vice president. Following the attack at the Capitol, many feared for Biden’s and Harris’s safety at the inauguration, but fortunately, it proceeded peacefully. National Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman delivered a powerful, uplifting poem titled "The Hill We Climb" that has gained national recognition. Gorman’s words, as well as the inauguration itself, left millions of Americans with a sense of hope.
So far, Biden has issued 17 executive orders, many of which have countered actions taken by Trump during his presidency. The U.S. has officially rejoined the World Health Organization and the Paris Climate Agreement, and Biden has reversed Trump’s travel ban on predominantly Muslim countries. Many of the orders focused on coronavirus relief, including mask mandates, funding for treatments, and increased supplies. Additional orders target protecting the environment, promoting racial equity, and aiding those who are struggling financially.
Needless to say, this month has been significant for America and its politics. But what does Biden’s presidency mean for our future as a nation? Within the first few days of Biden’s presidency, we have already witnessed progress. While this is certainly meaningful for America, we must not become complacent. Politically, the past four years have been tumultuous, marked by acts of discrimination and hatred. It is easy to think that Donald Trump was the cause of these issues, but we must recognize that he was not the sole reason for such problems. Rather, Trump’s presidency simply unveiled and exacerbated long-standing issues in America. Now we see these issues uncovered, open wounds festering on the surface of democracy. In his inaugural address, Biden asserted that now is the time to heal, and we can have many reasons to believe this is the case. However, while this undoubtedly marks a step in the right direction, we cannot expect that having a new president will resolve all of our problems immediately.
The past four years have driven millions of people, especially members of younger generations, to become politically aware and active. As we transition into life under a new administration, we must continue to hold our leaders accountable for their actions. Trump is no longer president, but this does not mean we should stop using out voices for good. We can hope that Biden will bring about many positive changes for America, but we must not forget that our individual actions influence these changes, too. We are left with the shards of Trump’s America, and as a nation, we must now pick them up and piece them back together.