This week started with trepidation as US headed into the inauguration on Wed, 20 Jan.
After what happened on 06 Jan with the storming of the Capitol and more than 25,000 troops stationed there ahead of the swearing-in ceremony, there was a real fear that something bad would happen on the actual day. Would there be a final QAnon storm that will descent on DC? Will some crazy nut try to pull a violent stunt on the newly elected leader? These were very immediate concerns which the world was watching intently because of the 06 Jan fiasco by the security team.
Thankfully, nothing happened on 20 Jan and we had a short and abbreviated ceremony which signal a return to normalcy after 4 years of the orange menace. Boring and predictable is good. There was a nice 1 hour of inauguration events with singers, actors speeches and fireworks.
Biden gave a short speech and got down to work immediately to sign multiple presidential executive orders to correct the mess made by the previous team and to tackle the urgent issues on hand, like the pandemic. The uncoordinated approach to the vaccine rollout was also addressed.
I thought Obama had his hands full in 2008 when he had to take over the financial crisis but Biden’s tasks now are even more onerous – pandemic, climate change and a weakening economy. Leadership that was so sorely lacking over the past months had created a headless chicken administration where no one was home and the supreme leader was out playing golf.
It is a nice breath of fresh air to see Biden taking control and providing a top-down direction to a nation that is divided with hate and confusion. At the oath-taking for 1,000 political appointees, something he said caught my attention. “I’m not joking when I say this: If you ever work with me and I hear you treat another colleague with disrespect, talk down to someone, I will fire you on the spot. No ifs, ands or buts.”.
That common sense of human decency that was totally missing from the last administration is finally returning. Their past actions constantly shocked us as people are humiliated and then thrown under the bus while his supporters cheered him on. We watched from outside America and wonder if it was the demise of American world leadership and that western democracy was crumbling. The hypocrisy was so rich it was vomit-inducing.
Biden immediately got down to work and within the last 2.5 workdays, he probably did more work than what the orange one accomplished in a long time. A lot of the toxic measures were also reversed. Building a wall and separating children from families is no more. Cruel actions for the sake of doing it should stop now. Science should triumph over falsehoods and lies. Even Fauci commented that it is so good to rely on scientific facts and speak the truth now. That if he doesn’t have the answer, he can say so honestly instead of trying to twist the truth to suit a political agenda.
Hopefully, the GOP comes around to non-partisan politics and push through an agenda that benefits all. But bad habits are hard to kick and Mitt is into his games again, trying to delay the process even though their house majority is no more. As more evidence emerges from the 06 Jan riots, I am sure the case for impeachment will become stronger.
There is so much to do now and so little time left. The urgency is very real as another 100,000 more in the US may die from the virus, according to projections. The world is not out of the woods yet. New waves have started and the newer strains are being detected everywhere, even as travelling had been restrictive. Asian countries including China are seeing new lockdowns as the virus creeps into the population again.
To date, about 56 million in the world have taken the vaccines so far. Some deaths have occurred for the older folks who took it. Some people are still fearful of possible side effects. But between prevention of death and getting long Covid, isn’t it better to just take the vaccine when your turn comes?
Vaccination is now being administered for the older generation and front line troops who are battling the virus in hospitality/service industries. My age groups turn should be coming soon. I have no hesitation about taking it. A return to normalcy is only possible with the vaccine and herd immunity. Future overseas travel will depend on if you have had the vaccine. No more 14 days quarantine.
The issues on hand now are as follows… We have no idea how long the vaccine can last and protect us. Is it 3, 6 or more months? Before we get vaccine herd immunity, will the people who took the first batch of the vaccine shots still be immune or do they need to take it again? There is also insufficient studies on asymptomatic cases. Can they still pass the virus to others and for how long? Newer waves are also being detected due to old infections and new virus mutations.
I strongly feel that we can see light at the end of the dark tunnel now. But the question is how far are we away from the finishing line? 6 months? 12 more months? There is still no certainty at the moment. But at least there is renewed hope that the worst is behind us, that things should get better from here, that 2021 would be so much brighter than 2020. Keeping my fingers crossed.
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