President Biden on Thursday asked the country to come together to defeat a series of challenges while speaking at the National Prayer Breakfast, reflecting on the pain caused by the coronavirus pandemic and the need to tackle “political extremism” in the aftermath of a deadly attack on the United States Capitol.
In brief comments on the virtual breakfast, Biden described faith as a tool that can lift the country out of its current dark period. He noted that more than 400,000 Americans died due to COVID-19 and millions lost jobs due to the economic crisis induced by the pandemic. Biden also spoke about the need to offer racial justice and tackle the climate change crisis.
“We have just witnessed images that we never imagined, images that we will never forget now: a violent attack on the United States Capitol, an attack on our democracy, our Capitol. A violent attack that threatened lives and took lives. We now know that we must face and defeat political extremism, white supremacy and domestic terrorism, ”said Biden, referring to the January 6 riot in which supporters of the former President Trump
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“For so many in our nation, this is a dark, dark time. So, where do we turn? Faith. Kierkegaard wrote: ‘Faith sees best in the dark’. I believe it to be true. For me, in the darkest moments, faith offers hope and comfort, as well as clarity and purpose. It shows the way forward, ”continued Biden.
Biden went on to call for national unity – echoing the message he sent during his campaign and early days in the Oval Office.
He adopted a markedly different tone from Trump, his predecessor, who at breakfast last year boasted of his absolution in his first impeachment trial and questioned the faith of his political opponents. Last year’s breakfast was also personal, occurring at the beginning of the pandemic and before strict meeting restrictions were adopted to contain the spread of the virus.
Biden on Thursday described those who lost health care, faced eviction or died of coronavirus not as “Democrats and Republicans” but as “fellow Americans, like human beings”. He demanded that the country move beyond party divisions to face the pandemic and expressed confidence that the United States would overcome the difficult days of the pandemic, but warned that “many difficult nights” are yet to come.
“This is not a nation that can or will just stand by and watch this. We are not like that. It is not who faith calls us to be, ”said Biden. “Right now, we cannot be shy or tired. We have a lot of work to do. It is for our work, not just our words, that we will be judged. “