Celebration and a Call to Action

 Tonight is a time to celebrate the assertion of the democratic will of the people to place in abeyance incipient fascism in America while also overcoming the profoundly archaic and deeply un-democratic electoral college system whereby we determine who is to occupy the highest office in the land.

Should we be happy that an attempt to endorse autocratic rule in ‘the land of the free’ has been repelled?...unequivocally, yes; pleased that two center/center-right politicians are set to take up residency in the White House?...maybe not so much. 

Progressive activists together with a broad coalition of forward-thinking Americans have propelled Biden/Harris into a place of sacred leadership. Starting tomorrow, during this interim period until inauguration on 1/20/21 and throughout the tenure of the next administration, we must go to work to ensure that the campaign rhetoric supporting progressive change on the issues of climate change, the right to universal health care, a comprehensive plan to bring the Covid-19 pandemic under control, the restoration of economic justice for all Americans, a genuine reckoning with ongoing systemic racism, and a serious reordering and prioritizing of our use of public resources is followed by policies that will transform lofty promise into concrete reality.

Dishonesty and Entitled Privilege

 In the aftermath of last night's VP debate, it might be helpful to focus on two rather glaring aspects. The first involves Pence's utter disingenuousness as he, on the one hand, pontificated about the value of coming together as upstanding Americans after the 'exchange of differing opinions' while, on the other, refused to accept the results of the election (in the event of a probable defeat) by repeating the ongoing lie about non-existent voter fraud and further balked at the question of agreeing to the peaceful transition of power in the wake of the election. The second aspect of yesterday's event centers on the brazen entitlement Pence displayed when constantly speaking over his allotted time thereby creating an imbalance of total air-time accorded to each candidate. This flagrant disregard of the debate rules was a chilling reminder to both the two women on stage and to the entire country that the exercise of male privilege still is very much alive in the minds and actions of politicians at the highest level. As a result, it comes as no surprise that women everywhere are in the process of switching their allegiance away from the GOP. Last night's performance by Pence did nothing to reverse this trend.

Obvious Irony

 In the immediate wake of the announcement regarding DJT falling victim to the global pandemic, which has affected millions around the world this year...the phrase 'karmic irony' springs to mind. That said, compassion is especially made manifest, tested, and needed when extended to those less likely to practice it themselves.

It Can Happen Here

 In addition to witnessing a national embarrassment in the form of a presidential "debate", we also were subjected, in no uncertain terms, to an authoritarian demagogue's direct appeal to a neo-Nazi, white supremacist group to consolidate power, threaten violence, and actively promote the undermining of the democratic process itself. Make no mistake: the ugly face of Fascism was on full display tonight as a harbinger of what is to come in Trump's vision of America's immediate future.

A Timely Recommendation

Just finished watching James Baldwin's I Am Not Your Negro again on Netflix. In this pivotal time of societal change and collective reckoning, Baldwin's words echo with a clarion call for genuine understanding, thoughtful reflection, honest assessment of our troubled past, deep compassion, and a thoughtful recognition of our need for authentic reconciliation.

A Study In Contrast

While listening to President Obama's stirring tribute to civil rights legend John Lewis earlier today we were reminded of the eloquence of his oratory, the clarity of his thought, the sharpness of his intellect, the quality of his character, the depth of his feeling, the scope of his historical vision, and the warmth of his humanity. These perceptions stand in obvious and stark contrast with the Current Occupant's hateful and divisive speech, the discursive nature of his thought, his utter lack of intellectual curiosity, the corrosive meanness of his demeanor, his conspicuous lack of compassion, his appalling ignorance of history, and his inability/unwillingness to make genuine human connection. Today's speech by Obama revealed the duel realities of how far we have descended in terms of national leadership and also what is possible in terms of the expression of authentic American values.

Moving Toward Authentic Reconciliation

The issue at hand involves coming to an awareness, as a society, of the reality that the lives of POC (especially black lives) have not mattered in the same way that members of the dominant, white culture have been regarded. One of the principal reasons that this issue has reached a point of critical mass is the very real way in which the country is changing demographically. Very soon in our evolution, the white race will no longer be dominant in America and, as a consequence, our institutions are bound to reflect this change. For many of us, this change is a welcomed event, signaling a new, vibrant, multi-cultural, and more inclusive nation of fellow citizens. To others, it signals a loss of power and identity.
In order for us to move forward in unity and to heal internal wounds long left unattended, we must now come together in an honest confrontation of our past for the purpose of genuine reconciliation.
Once again, let us fully embrace the notion that all lives will never matter until and unless black (and all POC) lives also matter. Let's now commit to doing the work necessary to make this vision a living reality.