Valley residents watch, react to President Joe Biden’s inauguration

By TAYLOR BROWN
tbrown@yourmvi.com

As Joe Biden became the 46th president of the United States on Wednesday, residents around the Mon Valley were watching.
Some celebrated, others ridiculed the nation’s newest leader, and a few opted to ignore the inauguration entirely, proving the divide Biden has pledged to bridge.
For Fallowfield Township resident Adele Cardinale Pireaux, watching the inauguration unfold with the few people in attendance wearing masks, and the National Mall full of flags representing the American people instead of actual people, was a bittersweet moment.
Pireaux and her husband Rich attended the second inauguration of former President Bill Clinton in 1997. She said the atmosphere of Wednesday’s historic day appeared a lot different from her experience 24 years ago.
“Being at the inauguration was so much fun,” she remembered. “People from all over the country coming together for what was like one big party. But, back then, it was before 9/11 and there were hardly any restrictions.”
She watched Wednesday’s live stream of the ceremonies with her husband and grandchildren, teaching them about the inauguration and past events to make sure they knew the importance of the day and what it means for our country.
“It made me feel quite sad that there were so few people for such a moment,” she said. “It brought a tear to my eye and it was very emotional to watch the contrast from other inaugurations, just to see where we have come because of this pandemic.”
As Biden and Harris took their seats, she said became hopeful he will be able to achieve his promise of uniting the American people.
“I want to see our country become more united,” she said. “We can’t be divided anymore.”
While hopeful, she is concerned an already divided nation may not be able to come together.
“I am concerned about civil unrest within our country,” she said. “I guess that would be the best way to describe it. Because of the insurgence at the Capitol, there are people within our country who are turning on our country and on each other, and I hope we can get past it.
“I truly hope that Congress can get things done, work with our president and that the government can be honest and forthcoming to the people.”
Laura Magone, president of the Monongahela Historical Society, said she was proud.
“I was pleased and proud today,” she said. “I thought it was a wonderful inauguration ceremony. The message given by President Biden, one of unity and togetherness, is a message we all should heed.”
While she was happy with the ceremony itself, leading up to the inauguration she was worried.
“What we saw two weeks ago was horrific,” she said. “It is something that should make us all take pause and realize how fragile democracy is, because we came very close to losing it. I was on edge, because I wasn’t sure what would happen at the inauguration.
While Magone was inspired by the inaugural events, she knows many people won’t agree.
“I understand not everyone will feel the same way,” she said. “The big thing these past four years have taught us is that we can hear the same message and interpret it very differently. I don’t expect everyone to have the same positive response as I did today, but it does bother me that so many people have participated to create the current climate we are living in, including other elected officials. Everyone has to take responsibility for their part before we can move forward.”
In the next four years, Magone said she has high hopes for the United States’ position in the world to be restored, to learn how to have civil conversations and to love your neighbor.
She will remember Jan. 20, 2021, as an important day in history.
“We should be proud that we have our first woman vice president, who is also a woman of color,” Magone said. “It is truly a historic day and I hope people decide to support her because she is competent, qualified and capable. I also hope they are able to give President Biden a chance to be our healer in chief.”
Natalie Botsko of Monongahela echoed similar sentiments.
“I was really nervous for the inauguration after the riots on Jan. 6,” she said. “I was scared something bad was going to happen, but I am also concerned that we won’t be able to move on from the claims of election fraud.”
She said Biden, who paid respect to more than 400,000 lives lost to the COVID-19 pandemic during his speech, has a big challenge ahead.
“The toll that COVID has taken will take years to bounce back from,” she said. “But, I am hopeful that the line that divides us all will slowly start to fade and we can start working together as Americans again instead of Democrats versus Republicans.”
For other residents, the future does not appear to be so bright.
Nikki Lawrence of Finleyville said she is hopeful for one thing – the re-election of President Donald Trump in 2024.
“Today is a sad day for America as we swore in two people who are not looking out for the people of the United States,” she said.
She is worried Biden will not put the American people first.
“My concerns are for all the illegal immigrants who are being allowed here by Biden, when in fact we need to help put our people, our veterans living on the streets, first.
“My biggest hope is that Trump, or someone of a similar mindset, will eventually return to put the U.S. back in place when Biden is gone. I’m hopeful for the 2024 re-election of Donald J. Trump.”
While local businessman Norm Candelore Jr. of McMurray did not vote for Biden, he wishes the new president the best.
“Today is supposed to be a great day for America, a day when the transfer of power takes place; it’s supposed to be a good day, a peaceful day, a day of hope and new promises, but this time the transfer of power seems to be more like the transfer of lack of power,” Candelore said. “Biden and Harris, I do wish them the best, it is the right thing to do as an American and someone who needs America to be strong so that we can have the opportunities and chances we need to be successful for our families and ourselves.”
He said time will tell if America voted the right team into office.
“We seemed to be making progress in many areas, especially our economy and jobs, I am not sure the Biden/Harris agenda is as focused as the Trump administration has been on what we need,” he said. “Jobs and a strong economy really do and will continue to solve a lot of problems that most or many of us have everyday.”
He is worried about an increased minimum wage, a jump in taxes and other possible financial strain for hardworking people, but he knows America will prevail.
“America will survive, we have to and we will,” Candelore said. “If Biden keeps his promises that got him elected and the American people supported to make this happen, I think we are going to be in for four years of not hating Trump, but four years of realizing how much we wish we would have paid attention to how good things were and the possibilities of even more success.”
He has his fingers crossed, but is not so sure what the next four years might hold.
“Today is supposed to be a good day, personally I think we blew it, we had a great chance and we blew it,” he said. “I have been wrong before, I sure hope I am wrong this time and Biden/Harris have some success…Seriously, am I concerned? I am, but do I wish this new leadership the best? I do, we have to.”