[Magdalen] Symbol upon symbol

[Roger Stokes]

While I did not watch wall to wall coverage of the inauguration because 
of other commitments I did watch the central ceremony. These events are 
necessarily stage-managed with lots of ritual as well as the dual 
swearing in but from this side of the pond it was shot through with 
symbolism. In the morning the Bidens went to mass together with other 
prominent politicians including McConnell. Four of the five living 
former Presidents were acknowledged either by being there on the podium 
or Carter being referenced in Biden's speech. The body language showed 
that Bush was not ashamed to be there with his predecessor and 
successor. Throughout there seemed to be a good atmosphere although 
Pence seemed a bit awkward at being dumped with the responsibility of 
representing the outgoing administration, though he did share a joke 
with the VP and her husband as he left the capitol.

Who could miss that dove with an olive branch that Lady Gaga wore with 
the olive branch being echoed in her ear rings? Surely a message of 
peace. I can't recall the significance of the woman who recited the 
Pledge of Allegiance but she signed as she recited it, inclusiveness. 
Jennifer Lopez included some Spanish in her offering, I gather it was 
about one nation, indivisible under God. Biden's speech citing Augustine 
and calling for unity and as for that poem - wow! Here in the UK we are 
used to having Poets Laureate who will church out something anodyne on 
important state occasions. That was something altogether different and 
contemporary. I gather part of it was written in the past two weeks but 
it was emphatic that democracy will not be defeated and read with such 
feeling.

May all those hopes of peace and inclusiveness be realised in the coming 
months and years.

Roger