723 Words of Wisdom-Climb The Hill
A study of the Inaugural Poem
Climb the hill
It takes youth sometimes to speak the truth. Many of us set in ways. We need to take time to reset. Review our beliefs and biases. Amanda Gorman gave us plenty to ponder in her inauguration poem, “The Hill we Climb.” 723 Words that encompass our past, our present, and the hope for a brighter future. 10 paragraphs full of insight and wisdom for each of us to consider. There is much to read here for all of us. A view of our country that bears quiet consideration by each of us. This is a call to remind us that our goal is to build a better future for our children, our country, and our world.
Concepts to consider from each paragraph.
- As we start a new day with a new President, we have moved from darkness into light and must realize that quiet isn’t necessarily peace and that we must reignite justice in our country.
2. “Our country isn’t broken, just unfinished.” We have completed a period in our history. We are moving on.
3. We aren’t striving for a perfect union, but a more perfect union. We need to remember the words of our forefathers and our constitution. We need to move from where we are towards a union with more equality, justice for all, a colorblind nation, a nation that celebrates our diversity rather than uses it to divide us.
4. Now is the time to close the divide between us. We must put our differences aside. Find our common ground, join hands together to heal the nation, and once again show a united front to all. It does not defeat us. The division is not the answer. Union and harmony are.
5. They tested democracy. And we met the test. We have learned that to build our Democracy we cannot do that with a gun, but only by building the bridges of understanding.
6. Democracy isn’t a steadily improving life. Sometimes we take a step back, and it tests us. Its rise can be delayed, but as long as “we the people” prevail, they will never defeat it. We are entering a new chapter of hope and civility.
7. cannot prevail over us. We will prevail over the trials we are facing: Covid, economic crisis, justice tattered, and vaccine distribution.
8. We are not going backward; we are looking forward. We must make love for all our legacy. We must unify, find civility, and regain truth from lies.
9. We must bring all our people, every part of our country, along with us on this journey so we can emerge again as the shining light for the world.
10. We must become an enlightened nation again. Willing to see the light and brave enough to become the light.
My apologies to Amanda Gordan for those parts of her poem I misunderstood. Everyone should read it for themselves to see the power of art in her words. Also, watch a video of her reading to get a feel for the majesty of the moment.
“The care of human life and happiness, and not their destruction, is the first and only object of good government.”- Thomas Jefferson.
“I never considered a difference of opinion in politics, in religion, in philosophy, as cause for withdrawing from a friend.”- Thomas Jefferson.
