benevolent
showing or motivated by sympathy and understanding
We will not march back to what was, but move to what shall be: a country that is bruised but whole,
benevolent but bold, fierce and free.
blunder
an embarrassing mistake
Our
blunders become their burdens.
catastrophe
a sudden violent change in the earth's surface
So, while once we asked, how could we possibly prevail over
catastrophe, now we assert, how could
catastrophe possibly prevail over us?
democracy
the orientation of those who favor government by the people
Would destroy our country if it meant delaying
democracy.
envision
imagine, conceive of, or see in one's mind
Scripture tells us to
envision that everyone shall sit under their own vine and fig tree, and no one shall make them afraid.
heir
a person entitled by law to inherit the estate of another
We did not feel prepared to be the
heirs of such a terrifying hour.
inception
an event that is a beginning
We feared at its
inception.
inertia
the tendency of something to stay in rest or motion
We will not be turned around or interrupted by intimidation because we know our inaction and
inertia will be the inheritance of the next generation, become the future.
inheritance
hereditary succession to a title or an office or property
We will not be turned around or interrupted by intimidation because we know our inaction and inertia will be the
inheritance of the next generation, become the future.
intimidation
the act of scaring a weaker person to make them do something
We will not be turned around or interrupted by
intimidation because we know our inaction and inertia will be the inheritance of the next generation, become the future.
norm
a standard or model or pattern regarded as typical
We've learned that quiet isn't always peace, and the
norms and notions of what "just" is isn't always justice.
prevail
be larger in number, quantity, power, status or importance
So, while once we asked, how could we possibly
prevail over catastrophe, now we assert, how could catastrophe possibly
prevail over us?
pristine
immaculately clean and unused
And, yes, we are far from polished, far from
pristine, but that doesn't mean we are striving to form a union that is perfect.
reconcile
come to terms
We will rebuild,
reconcile, and recover.
scripture
any writing that is regarded as sacred by a religious group
Scripture tells us to envision that everyone shall sit under their own vine and fig tree, and no one shall make them afraid.
sow
place seeds in or on the ground for future growth
Not because we will never again know defeat, but because we will never again
sow division.
strive
attempt by employing effort
And, yes, we are far from polished, far from pristine, but that doesn't mean we are
striving to form a union that is perfect.
successor
a person who follows next in order
We, the
successors of a country and a time where a skinny Black girl descended from slaves and raised by a single mother can dream of becoming president, only to find herself reciting for one.
wade
walk through relatively shallow water
weathered
worn by exposure to the elements
Somehow we
weathered and witnessed a nation that isn't broken, but simply unfinished.