On the Winds of Change? America and the Flickering Beacon of Democracy Source: Mccv/ Shutterstock.com Written by Cosmas Emeziem Edited by Tiffany Agard Where were you when the first female Vice President of the United States, Kamala D. [1] Harris, was sworn in? Did you know it took 101 years after US women’s suffrage for the first woman Vice President to be elected and inaugurated? Did you know that it was also 56 years after the Civil Rights Act 1964 that restored African Americans’ rights to vote? In- between were years of democratic action, organizing, and policy dialogues. In those years, many patriots paid the price of democracy and kept its flickering beacon aglow. They ran the race to pass on the baton of democracy with hope and charity from shore to shore. On the morning of the inauguration, the flurries of snow on Cornell’s Ithaca campus and the presidential inauguration arena in Washington D.C. presaged a special | 1 On the Winds of Change? America and the Flickering Beacon of Democracy [2] [3] moment. Yes, it is that time of the year—with chilling winter breeze and cascading flakes of snow. It is that wintry time of the year, and the anxiety of the COVID-19 pandemic did not make the inauguration less complicated. Attendees were all required to wear masks and observe social distance despite the occasion. Indeed, it was held at a time of great economic, social and political difficulties exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the warmness of the moment suggested a new beginning. It was the inauguration of a new American President and Vice President—the 59th time in the 245 years of America’s ‘democratic experiment.’ Image courtesy of Mccv/ Shutterstock.com Coming behind a bitterly fought election in America, the moment was unique in many respects. It will be the first time a woman—a Black and South Asian woman—will serve as [4] [5] [6] the Vice President of the United States. But America opened another important | 2 On the Winds of Change? America and the Flickering Beacon of Democracy democratic landscape by electing Kamala Harris to the Office of the Vice Presidency. Alas, America has overcome its perennial inertia towards women—especially Black women and women of color—in public policy and governance—at the highest offices at the national level. The Country gave wind to many little children’s dreams—especially to Black and young girls of color, by this act of democratic courage—that everything is possible. They, too, are co- owners of America. Her oath of office administered by the first Latina on the Supreme Court Bench of the United States was epoch-making. Therefore, the COVID-19 pandemic, in its viciousness and the chilling winter breeze, could not blur the moment. Once again, American democracy has another chance to continue the march towards a more perfect union. As is the case with every transitional moment, democratic societies should look back while moving forward; else, they stand to repeat the past mistakes. Many of these historical mistakes—violence against first nations, slavery, segregation, voter repression—and the bitter politics of the recent elections have manifested in the events at the Capitol on January 6, 2021. It unveiled America’s deep divides and fragile social, economic, cultural, religious, and democratic fabric. Thus, there are continuing concerns about economic exclusion, demographic anxiety, inequality, lack of healthcare support, and the increasing privatization of the public sphere. Even now, this mesh of concerns continues to spark resentment in the body polity. The foregoing state of affairs has led to several calls for healing and reconciliation in America. These calls for unity and reconciliation have also been met with the demand for accountability, responsibility, and restoration of the sacred public sphere, which has been violated by the protesters at the Capitol. Hence the theme of unity featured prominently in the inauguration ceremony—including the president’s speech and the invocation by the pastors. As the 200,000 flags in the background gyrated to the gentle winds amidst the flurries of snow, one was reminded again of those who have died due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It recalled the wavering nature of democracy and the fact that active participation is the lifeblood of democracy. Democracy remains an act—a duty which we owe to ourselves and the future generation as trustees of the American state. To fiddle with that heritage is a luxury that any reasonable person can ill afford in a democratic society. It is a heritage, for which many had offered the greatest recompense, for its sustenance and continued enrichment. For policy enthusiasts, the elections have come and gone, but policymaking has just begun. Indeed the task ahead is the hard work of delivering public policy in ways that will enhance | 3 On the Winds of Change? America and the Flickering Beacon of Democracy democracy and deepen restoration, reconciliation, unity, justice, equality, equity, and peace for all. The promises of the election season—to ‘build back better’ and give all Americans a chance to succeed—will require grit and sacrifice. Thus, making the American democracy work for all and ensuring that the promises of a free America do not come back as “dud checks”—especially to its minority populations—is the greatest policy concern and hope of this historical hour. Already, calls for the implementation of a robust COVID-19 stimulus package has become strident. Other issues like the cancellation of student debts, enlargement of access to healthcare for all, criminal justice reforms such as abolishing the death penalty, and decriminalization of recreational use of marijuana are also currently [7] receiving public articulation and mobilization. President Joseph Biden emphasized many of these points in his inaugural speech. He called for unity while expressing his belief in the possibility of change. This emphasis was further given a policy endorsement in an Executive Order made shortly after the inauguration ceremony thus: “NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim January 20, 2021, a National Day of Unity and call upon the people of our Nation to join together and write the next story of our democracy — an American story of decency [8] and dignity, of love and of healing, and of greatness and of goodness.” Astonishingly, the inaugural speech resonated with the tremendous poetic rendition of [9] Amanda Gorman. That poetic voice piercingly captured the moment and mirrored the history and struggles about justice, equity, equality, restoration, reclamation, reconciliation, and democracy in America. Amanda is a prophet of newness—an utterer of the unutterable earnestness. Like an African grandmother, she eloquently wove magnificent beads, sequins, and patterns into the fabric of America. In a sense, she knitted together the ripping seam of American history. At a time of disappearing depth in public communication, Amanda Gorman is a bringer of hope. Policymakers need to now see the value of poetry in public policy. Poetry articulates the ruminations of a people’s mind. It opens dialogues that are both current and timeless. It stirs hope even in times of difficulty. We live by symbols and prophecies. Like the previous prophecies—the Declaration of Independence, the Emancipation Proclamation, and Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address—Amanda Gorman’s poetry reinforces the value of prophecies fitly spoken, in the life and democratic trajectory of America. Thus, every generation needs the utterer of truth—a teller of unvarnished freshness. Amanda Gorman is our fresh fountain of water. May her wisdom surge like the great fountains of her ancestors. In the hours since the inauguration formalities of President Joseph Biden, and Vice | 4 On the Winds of Change? America and the Flickering Beacon of Democracy President Kamala Harris, the president has signed some Executive Orders (EOs): 1. The EO Preserving and Fortifying Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) January 20, 2021 2. Reinstating Deferred Enforced Departure for Liberians January 20, 2021. 3. Proclamation on the Termination Of Emergency With Respect To The Southern Border Of The United States And Redirection Of Funds Diverted To Border Wall Construction January 20, 2021. 4. Executive Order on Ethics Commitments by Executive Branch Personnel January 20, 2021 5. Modernizing Regulatory Review January 20, 2021. 6. Executive Order on Preventing and Combating Discrimination on the Basis of Gender Identity or Sexual Orientation January 20, 2021 7. Executive Order on Protecting Public Health and the Environment and Restoring Science to Tackle the Climate Crisis January 20, 2021 8. Executive Order on Ensuring a Lawful and Accurate Enumeration and Apportionment Pursuant to the Decennial Census, January 20, 2021. 9. Executive Order on Revocation of Certain Executive Orders Concerning Federal Regulation, January 20, 2021. 10. Executive Order on the Revision of Civil Immigration Enforcement Policies and Priorities, January 20, 2021. 11. Executive Order on Organizing and Mobilizing the United States Government to Provide a Unified and Effective Response to Combat COVID-19 and to Provide United States Leadership on Global Health and Security, January 20, 2021. 12. Executive Order on Protecting the Federal Workforce and Requiring Mask-Wearing, January 20, 2021. 13. Proclamation on Ending Discriminatory Bans on Entry to The United States, January 20, 2021. 14. Executive Order On Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government, January 20, 2021 15. Regulatory Freeze Pending Review, January 20, 2021. 16. A National Day of Unity, January 20, 2021. 17. Executive Order on Protecting the Federal Workforce January 22, 2021 18. Executive Order on Ensuring an Equitable Pandemic Response and Recovery January 21, 2021 19.
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