TheCable

President Joe Biden has promised to end the “uncivil war” that has ravaged the United States following an electoral crisis.

In his inaugural speech on Wednesday, Biden dwelled on a message of hope, love and unity, vowing to “write the next great chapter in the history of the United States of America.”

He was sworn in as the 46th president in a ceremony shunned by Donald Trump, his predecessor who never acknowledge defeat at the poll.

Up until Wednesday morning when he vacated the White House, Trump also never acknowledge Biden as the incoming president, insisting instead that he was robbed of his electoral victory.

Taking note of a deeply divided nation, Biden said “my whole soul is in uniting our people”, mentioning the word, “unity” nine times in the 21-minute inauguration address monitored by TheCable.

“I know speaking of unity can sound to some like a foolish fantasy these days. I know the forces that divide us are deep and they are real,” he said, before adding: “But I also know they are not new.”

“It’s time for boldness for there is so much to do. And this is certain, I promise you. We will be judged, you and I, by how we resolve these cascading crises of our era,” he said.

“We will rise to the occasion. Will we master this rare and difficult hour? Will we meet our obligations and pass along a new and better world to our children? I believe we will, and when we do, we’ll write the next great chapter in the history of the United States of America. The American story.

“We must end this uncivil war that pits red against blue, rural versus urban, conservative versus liberal. We can do this if we open our souls instead of hardening our hearts, if we show a little tolerance and humility, and if we’re willing to stand in the other person’s shoes, as my mom would say. Just for a moment, stand in their shoes.”

‘LET US FINALLY FACE THE PANDEMIC’

Biden added that Americans are going to “need each other”  going forward, warning that the country is entering what he described as “the darkest and deadliest period of the virus (ie. novel coronavirus).”

Unlike Trump who often downplayed the risk of the pandemic that has killed 412,000 Americans, Biden said it is time “set aside politics and finally face this pandemic as one nation.”

“America has been tested and we’ve come out stronger for it. We will repair our alliances, and engage with the world once again. Not to meet yesterday’s challenges but today’s and tomorrow’s challenges,” he said.

“And we’ll lead not merely by the example of our power but the power of our example….together, we will write an American story of hope, not fear. Of unity not division, of light not darkness. A story of decency and dignity, love and healing, greatness and goodness. May this be the story that guides us.”