In the recent movie News of the World, Civil War veteran and itinerant paper man Captain Jefferson Kyle Kidd reads the news of the nation to Texas communities still smarting from the outcome of that war. The news of the newly restored nation is not always welcomed by those who refuse to accept the outcome. He is a voice of reason in a sea of rabble at times, encouraging his listeners to cease fighting the war and move on.

Joseph R. Biden, Jr, is the new president of the United States, inaugurated on January 20, ten weeks after a majority of Americans voted him into office, and two weeks to the day after angry forces led to destruction and death in the nation’s Capitol.

Our country is moving forward after a fair election, verified in every state, and certified in the halls of Congress that were defiled on January 6. It is time to put away divisive posters, flags, or banners. The focus now must be on unifying against the spread of the novel coronavirus, assisting lives in disarray because of the pandemic, and moving toward a point where businesses can safely reopen and our economy can once again thrive. It is time to regain the world’s trust, to accept that this earth is in dire need of caring custodians.

It will be no easy task for President Biden to put America — every state and every town, including Newtown — back on track; to ease concerns of disbelievers so that healing vital to this nation can begin. It is a monumental job, as a recent Quinnipiac poll notes disagreement on many levels between the two prominent parties: whether the former president should or should not be allowed to hold future elected offices; impeachment; whether or not to hold members of Congress accountable who attempted to overturn election results, disregarding the process that brings a peaceful transition of power. President Biden’s greatest challenge lies with the 67 percent of Republicans polled by Quinnipiac and tens of millions of voters who continue to believe that the Biden victory is illegitimate.

Newtown family and friends have struggled to understand each other’s views of the nation’s future, and that of our community. Bitter words were shared by Democrats and Republicans alike during last fall’s election season. It was not Newtown’s finest moment. But each side ultimately honored the will of the people to work together, a model of cooperation.

An understanding that we are in this together must be nurtured by each of us, allegiances set aside for the good of all. Put away symbols that have run their course or cause hurt. As has wisely been observed, a house divided against itself will not stand.

Unity. Trust. Renewal. Dignity. Respect. The inaugural speech of President Biden echoed themes familiar to our town.

The news of the world is not always what we want to hear, but when we listen, we can learn. That is the news of this world.