Bob and I were eating chocolate croissants for breakfast this morning when Bob’s cell phone rang. It was his brother, a lifelong Republican, giddy with happiness who called to tell us that Biden had just been called the winner of the Presidential race by the AP and the major networks. It’s a moment neither of us will ever forget. It’s historic not just for Biden, but also for Kamala Harris—the first woman, the first African-American woman, the first Asian American to be elected as Vice-President. I felt happy for my granddaughters and all the girls in American that the glass ceiling has been broken. I remembered it was the primary voters of South Carolina, many black, that gave Biden his first clear victory that set him on a successful path to the nomination. Without them, he would not be where he is today. I heard him acknowledge that in his acceptance speech tonight. I feel great joy, a sense of immense relief that there will be a reasonable person in the White House and a sobering sense of how much there is for them to do. This is a time of opportunity to relish the joy, to imagine all that can be, to live into the hope of possibilities before all the troubles begin to muddle the vision as the work begins. Bob said “Now there will be a science advisor again and Dr. Fauci can be head of the pandemic task force.” We received an email from our long time French friends with a photo of them raising their glasses in celebration of Biden’s victory. The news of this win has sped around the whole world! People all over the world are dancing in the streets!
But there is so much work to be done. The words of Howard Thurman’s poem “The Work of Christmas” came into my mind. Using his poem as a model: Now the election is over, the big work will begin: to control the Covid pandemic; to heal the nation’s divisions; to feed the hungry children; to address climate change; to address the systemic racism so that all might be free; to fix our economy for the benefit of everyone, to give everyone a chance in this life.
From the position of this win it is easier to feel gracious towards trump and his 70 million supporters. I feel less hate in my heart now. I am so relieved that someone with integrity and honesty will be in the White House. Truth and honesty will once again be important. Yet as I think about all the trumpers, I don’t think they are going to be very open to healing Joe Biden offers. For years they have been believing the lies that trump and Fox News have spun. Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity have told them what to believe for years. Their reality is totally different than mine. We are so deeply divided. During next days and weeks, I fear trump is going to be ugly, spewing lies about the election, filing lawsuits to undermine the election. I hope his supporters don’t get violent in the streets. The most important thing is that the American people have spoken. They have spoken for Biden, for decency and civility, for calm and order, for truth and honesty. This is a moment to relish!!!
No comments:
Post a Comment