On January 20th, 2021, Riverdale students, faculty, and parents alike halted all virtual commitments to tune into President Joseph R. Biden Jr.’s inauguration, located on the same steps that insurrectionists had rampaged weeks before. For The Riverdale Review Editorial Board, the sight of our nation’s leaders united at the Capitol was a powerful reminder that democracy has prevailed. Especially during a year of such chaos, the inauguration was a comforting restoration of normalcy and tradition.
In many ways, however, President Biden’s inauguration was anything but a return to the traditional. While inaugurations typically yield crowds that reach the hundred thousands, President Biden’s socially-distanced audience contained more flags than citizens. Alongside President Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris took the oath of office as the first female, first Black, and first Asian-American individual to hold the position. Throughout the next four years, they will be aided by the most racially diverse cabinet in United States history, a team that also consists of a record number of women and the first openly gay and transgender members. Despite the great strides our country must still make in order to dismantle institutional inequities, these victories gave our Editorial Staff hope; they established a precedent for increased representation of marginalized groups in American politics.
One of the most notable takeaways from the inauguration was President Biden’s fierce call for national unity. As the president stated during his inaugural address, “This is our historic moment of crisis and challenge, and unity is the path forward.”
We believe that unity starts small: it is only made possible by productive discourse in the classroom, with your friends, or at the dinner table. The Editorial Staff firmly upholds the notion that unity should not be a state where potentially divisive or uncomfortable conversations are frowned upon, particularly when it comes to reckoning with systemic racism and White privilege. It is imperative for communities like ours to be united through shared goals and visions for progress, while simultaneously welcoming distinct perspectives, challenging the views of teachers and peers, and learning from our differences. It is this dialogue that enriches the learning environment.
In this time of extreme political polarization, compromise must be a crucial aspect of a functioning democracy. However, one must question: what will we have to sacrifice to achieve unity? How do we reach unity while ensuring that just policies are implemented? It is important to recognize that seeking national unity can produce devastating consequences by preventing a nation from addressing some of the most vital issues at its core. Years after the Civil War, for example, in an attempt to appeal to southerners and reunite the Union, President Rutherford B. Hayes agreed to stop federal enforcement of civil rights in 1877. This led to the re-establishment of racially discriminatory laws in southern states and a severe loss of political power and safety for African Americans. In this case, the desire for national unity resulted in a profound sacrifice of moral principles.
History must not repeat itself; as members of a community within both our nation and school, we must consider how to balance the need for unity with the equally important need for progress towards equity and justice.
The Editorial Staff also believes that unity is dependent on accountability. On January 13th, former President Donald Trump was impeached, and subsequently acquitted, for inciting a mob of his supporters to storm the Capitol in an attempt to overturn the results of the election. While some citizens believe that former President Trump’s impeachment trials only furthered the national divide, a majority of the Editorial Board views his impeachment as essential to preserve the United States’ commitment to democracy and a smooth transition of power. By holding former President Trump responsible, legislators in the House ensured that these fundamental tenets of American politics will persist for both citizens and politicians to unite around, regardless of their party affiliations. For these reasons, former President Trump’s acquittal by the Senate on February 13th was disconcerting. To move forward as a nation, we cannot avoid confronting events like the insurrection; accountability is vital for progress and stability.
The insurrection on the Capitol was a culmination of conspiracies and lies about election fraud spread by social media, far-right news outlets, and groups like QAnon. As we witnessed on January 6th, the media dictates a powerful role in shaping public opinion and actions; thus, the spread of misinformation can have dangerous consequences. The public of the United States needs factual and nuanced media to provide them with the objective information they require to develop their own viewpoints. Just as important as it is for newspapers to hold those in power accountable, it is the obligation of the people to hold news sources responsible for relaying the truth.
While we operate on a smaller scale, The Riverdale Review Editorial Staff must be held to the same standards as national news publications. We encourage students and teachers alike to hold us accountable for relaying unbiased, comprehensive information about our community. As we enter a new semester, The Riverdale Review plans to continue adhering to our October 2020 Mission Statement: “represent[ing] a diversity of opinions, beliefs, and voices in each issue” and “amplify[ing] the voices of those who have previously been silenced [within Riverdale].” We hope that members of the community will continually reach out to our staff with questions, ideas, and critiques for how we can improve and grow as a publication.
