[Magdalen] Symbol upon symbol

[Marion Thompson]

A great weight lifted as the morning progressed and the plane finally took
them all away.  Praise be!  And so we entered a quiet time, a reflective
time, with thoughtful words and due reverence for what was happening.  Very
reassuring.

Marion, a pilgrim

On Wed, 20 Jan 2021 at 18:10, Roger Stokes via Magdalen <
magdalen at herberthouse.org> wrote:

> Yes Lynn, I was last in the USA in January 2017. On my previous trip a
> few months earlier in a conversation in the departure lounge as I waited
> to fly out I expressed my views on the then candidate and said I would
> not visit America if he was President. There's a few of the 48 I haven't
> been in yet. Let's just see how the next few months develop as at the
> moment I am not meant to travel abroad and the USA has a block on travel
> from the UK.
>
> Roger
>
> On 20/01/2021 22:47, Lynn Ronkainen wrote:
> > Thank you for your thoughts on the inauguration Roger. It is always
> interesting to hear opinions on this side of the pond-and even more so from
> someone well traveled and and interested in US history and politics.
> > I was also wowed by the Poet and her delivery and unique rhyme and
> rhythm scheme.
> > The event was hope-bringing at the end of the past 4 years.
> > Lynn
> >
> > On Jan 20, 2021, at 3:18 PM, Roger Stokes via Magdalen <
> magdalen at herberthouse.org> wrote:
> >
> > 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
> >
>
>