It’s Thursday, the first full day of the Biden/Harris administration. It’s also National Hugging Day, so do like Utah activist Collin Kartchner recommended and take 8 seconds to hug someone close. Tonight is also Governor Cox’s first State of the State address. It will be streamed live at www.facebook.com/utgovernorcox.
Yesterday’s Inauguration Day was the first one where I got a bit teary-eyed. I had to think about why and I came to the conclusion that it was because I had always taken the passing of the baton for granted. Of course the transfer would be peaceful. Of course both the winner and the loser would both be gracious. This year, though, we all got a reminder about the unique nature of transferring power in the United States. That, and the shattering of a very large glass ceiling were cause for some emotion.
Speaking of emotion – if you only have time for one thing today, you simply must take the time to watch the nation’s first Youth Poet Laureate, 22-year-old Amanda Gorman, recite her poem, “The Hill We Climb.” “We lift our gazes not to what stands between us, but what stands before us,” she recited. “We close the divide because we know to put our future first, we must first put our differences aside. We lay down our arms so we can reach out our arms to one another, we seek harm to none and harmony for all.” And finally, “There’s always light, if only we are brave enough to see it, if only we’re brave enough to be it.”
TICK TOCK
43 days to the end of the 2021 Utah Legislature (3/5/21)
83 days until the end of the Cox/Henderson administration’s first 100 days (04/14/2021)
99 days until the Biden/Harris administration’s first 100 days are up (04/30/2021)
