Inaugurated

I had drawn a rather negative image of Trump earlier in the day to mark his (petulant, foot-stampy) moving on from the office of President of the United States (in the extras, read the caveat to 'The Greatest'). But the inauguration, especially of Kamala Harris, felt like such a moment, and an emotional one, that I wanted to do something more positive.

And then the remarkable Amanda Gorman took to the stage. We might have had Lady Gaga, J-Lo, and Garth Brooks (Garth Brooks???) singing there as star power; but this 23 year-old poet was the best speaker on the day for me (and that's despite loving Biden's refreshingly coherent words). 

23. Having overcome a speech impediment when younger by practising songs from the musical Hamilton over and over. Founder of an organisation that runs a youth writing and leadership program. A writer on inequalities and oppression. Chosen as the first US Youth Poet Laureate in 2017. And her words were at once cutting of the extremism that has grown of late, and unifying behind a new way of doing things. The right wing will have hated her. Eloquent, articulate, female, black. In a few minutes she spoke with a passion, foresight, insight and intelligence that has been missing from the White House in the previous 4 years.

It couldn't help but make you feel optimistic, and I felt the emotion welling at the swearing in of both President Biden and VP Harris. Seems strange to be so involved in something happening thousands of miles away, but there's a need for optimism, especially in our own fractured, broken country. There are many of the same issues, underpinned by base corruption and ignorance, a manipulation of people who don't know better, for the means of those wielding power.

And whether we break free from that by the simple act of finally removing them from Westminster (though with who?); or it's down to Scotland to seek independence again, and then rejoin our European friends.... I can't wait for the day that I can shed a tear of hope for our own step away from the darkness.