Trump’s Inauguration imparts “a sense of duty”
When I signed up for Close Up last fall, I thought Inauguration Day would be a positive event, highlighting what’s working in our country and what we can to do improve America. But that’s not what it was like.
Instead, the Jan. 20 inauguration was overwhelmingly negative with the crowd yelling boos towards figures from the Democratic Party, most notably Bill and Hillary Clinton, as well as Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. These ranged from the common “you suck” to the occasional “shut up.” Perhaps the most troubling part of the whole inauguration was when Senator Schumer called for accepting people of all sexual orientations and gender identities and was met with a wave of hatred and boos.
Students from CVHS made the transcontinental trek all the way to Washington D.C. with the Close Up organization to see the inauguration of Donald Trump, as well as learn about government, politics, history, and how to maximize political efficacy.
But most of the 28 students were surprised and disappointed by the negative atmosphere surrounding the event. We even saw a fight nearly break out at a pre-inauguration concert between Trump’s supporters and opponents.
“This is the fourth time I have attended an Inauguration with students, starting with George W. Bush in 2005. This is the first time I have been surrounded by so many people saying awful things about members of the party that lost the election. It was very upsetting,” said Close Up veteran and CVHS teacher Carmelina Frasca, referring to the jeers and boos from many in the crowd.
While Trump’s inauguration drew his most fervent supporters, there was an even larger outpouring of expression the following day at the Women’s March on D.C., only this huge crowd was unified against the new president.
There are estimations that the Women’s March in Washington outnumbered the Inauguration by several hundred thousand, not to mention the millions that marched around the world from Iceland, to Iraq to Brazil.
I attended both the inauguration and the Women’s March, and it seemed to me that the Women’s March had far more positive energy as well as many more people.
Despite the negativity at the inauguration, I’m still glad I went because the experience taught me about our country and it gave me a sense of duty to be involved in local and national politics.
If you are reading this and you are not happy with how these events turned out, I recommend that you take a long objective look in the mirror. Try to see what went wrong, regroup and try again in 2018 and 2020. If you are reading this and you are happy with how things turned out, I recommend exercising some empathy. Lead by example and work for all Americans.
Hopefully as a nation we will be able to bridge this ever-increasing divide and realize that we all have more in common than we have apart.
It was very saddening to read how both of our major democratic parties are so fully against one another to the point where they yell negative phrases to eachother. We all should be united as one country if we want to see any positive changes happen in the future.
I’m so happy to see that the county is uniting in order to keep the rights of others. Well written article Will!
it’s cool how people didn’t ignore the negative comments but stood up against them
It’s surprising hearing that people in the crowed started to boo when equality for accepting people of all sexual orientations and geber identities was brought up. This was upsetting to read about. I hope out country will be able to overcome negativity like this in the future. Well written article William Stein.
Very sad that a huge crowd dislike the president.I understand why and I feel that shows something about the president.
Although I can understand why the crowd would be frustrated, I guess the critiques should be more civilized and all that
I feel like this clearly describes how the rift in the population of the US is forming. It gives the perspective of both sides in their actions, however not fully. There are many things to be considered that weren’t seen here, but the differences shown are enough to see what is happening and what could continue
I’m surprised there was so much negativity. Really sad
20 mins of his speech was prettttty much ‘Merica sucksT-T.
WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE, 20 mins of his speech was prettttty much ‘Merica sucksT-T.
Good Article