Today marks the inauguration of the 46th president of the United States, Joe Biden. The Constitution dictated this date long before the outset of this presidential election season. If the election had yielded a different result, the inauguration would still take place on the same day at the same place. However, I have seen teachers ask about whether they can show the inauguration to which others reply that their supervisors have said no or required permission slips because educators cannot become involved in “politics.” This demonstrates with heart-breaking clarity how the allegation of “politics” has transformed into a shield against dealing with reality.

When we avoid discussions about difficult topics, we end up basing relationships on a veneer that easily falls apart when those difficult things come home to roost. For five years, people avoided discussions of the ramifications of the 2016 election. Instead of confronting the toxicity, they let it fester in avoidance, claiming “we can’t talk about that. It’s too political.”

Then, the events of January 6th unfolded and left them without any valid excuse. They may still claim politics because they never confronted the lies pedaled by the occupant of the highest elected office in the country, but it no longer applies. Instead, it leaves them standing in the town square with no clothes on, believing they wear the latest fashion.