American Healing | Biden Oath Ceremony | The Hindu Editorial Vocabulary | With Hindi Word Meaning |

“American Healing”

Biden must build on bipartisan goodwill (द्विदलीय सद्भावना; a friendly and helpful feelings between two political parties) to further his agenda of a more perfect Union

After one of the most contentious (विवादपूर्ण; to cause disagreement and argument) elections and presidential transitions in recent history, it was a relatively scaled-­back inauguration ceremony that finally placed 46th President of the U.S. Joe Biden in the Oval Office (the working office space of the President of the United States).

The devastating (भयानक/विनाशकारी; causing a lot of damage or destruction) human and economic toll of the COVID­-19 pandemic, combined with deep partisan rancour (विद्वेष; a feeling of hate and continuing anger about something in the past) and the bitter aftertaste of the Capitol building (a building in which the US state government meets) attack earlier this month, meant that Inauguration Day was less a flamboyant (तेजतर्रार/भड़कीला; very confident in behaviour, and easily noticed by other people) extravaganza (बड़ी/रोमांचक कार्यक्रम; a large, exciting, and expensive event) than a quiet celebration of multicultural America reasserting (फिर से जताना/दोहराना; to say again that something is definitely true) itself.

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There could have been no greater symbol of that assertion than the swearing-­in (शपथ लेना; to make a formal promise to be honest or loyal when starting a new official job) of Kamala Harris, his running mate of Indian and African descent, as Vice-President — the first woman ever to hold that position.

Mr. Biden’s predecessor (पूर्ववर्ती/पूर्व अधिकारी; someone who had a job or a position before someone else), Donald Trump, chose to not attend the event, making him only the fourth President to do so. Nevertheless (फिर भी/तब भी; despite what has just been said or done), bipartisan goodwill was present on the dais (चबूतरा/मंच; a raised surface where someone stands on when speaking to a group) before the Capitol building, as Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts administered the oath (शपथ/क़सम ; a promise that you will tell the truth or that you will do what you have said) of office to Mr. Biden, including former Vice-President Mike Pence, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, and former President George W. Bush.

It was bipartisanship and societal healing that appeared to be the theme of Mr. Biden’s speech, as he vowed (प्रतिज्ञा करना; promise to do something) to unite all Americans to fight the foes (दुश्मन; an enemy) they faced, of “Anger, resentment (क्रोध/नाराज़गी; to feel angry because you have been forced to accept someone or something that you do not like), hatred. Extremism (अतिवाद/उग्रवाद; someone having beliefs that most people think are unreasonable and unacceptable), lawlessness (अराजकता; behaviour that is illegal or not controlled by laws), violence. Disease, joblessness, hopelessness”. To the world, he committed to lead “by the power of our example”.

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It was a demonstration of not only power but political intent when, on his first day in office, Mr. Biden expediently (समीचीन ढंग से; in a way that is helpful or useful, but sometimes not morally acceptable) reversed a range of Trump­-era actions by issuing 17 executive orders and directives to cancel the U.S.’s exit from the Paris Climate Agreement and WHO, include non­-citizens in the census count, protect immigrants under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals programme from heightened risk of deportation (निर्वासन/देश निकाला; to force a person to leave a country), revoke (रद्द करना; to say officially that an agreement, a law, etc. is no longer in effect) the “Remain in Mexico” policy, halt construction of the infamous (बदनाम/कुख्यात; famous for something considered bad) southern border wall and end the egregious (प्रबल/बेहद खराब; extremely bad in a way that is very noticeable) “Muslim ban”.

While these decisive actions (निर्णायक कार्रवाई; something that you do to make decisions quickly and confidently) may have felt like a balm (मलहम; reduces pain or gives comfort) to Democrats, he would do well to remember, as he goes about dismantling (निराकरण/खंडन; to get rid of a system or organization, usually over a period of time) the Trump legacy (विरासत; something that is a part of your history or what you receive after a person’s death), that 74 million people voted for his opponent, and Mr. Trump has  encouraged them to believe that the election was stolen.

If the Capitol building attack was an indication of the unhinged (पागल; mentally ill) rage (रोष; to speak very angrily to someone) seething (खौलता हुआ; extremely angry but unable or unwilling to express it clearly) below the ostensibly (संभवतः/ज़ाहिर तौर पर; as appears to be true, though not necessarily so) peaceful transfer of power, it may not be long before the America of economically disenchanted (मोहभंग होना ; no longer believing in the value of something, especially having learned of the problems with it) white privilege again rears (उठाना; to rise up) its head in a manner that today’s political victors find unsavoury (अनैतिक/घृणित; unpleasant, or morally offensive).

The fact that the White House, Senate and House of Representatives are now firmly in the grip of Democrats should not be cause for giving up on bipartisan moderation. Or else Mr. Biden’s search for a more perfect Union may take longer.