A Political Victory in the United States
I would like us to think about the recent political victory in the United States—in the U.S. presidential election. It was a victory for women, People of the Global Majority, Indigenous people, working people, young people, LBGTQ people, ethnic minorities—and all people, even those who did not vote for the winning ticket. It was a victory for people in the United States and for people globally.
The path to victory took several forms, but in the end it was a mass offensive of millions of people. It was a united front, a broad coalition, that defeated Donald Trump and elected Biden and Harris for President and Vice President of the United States.
I found out that Biden and Harris had won as I was participating in an exciting RC Allies to Muslims Workshop on Zoom. All of a sudden, I heard cars honking and people screaming (in a good way). Many people were hugging and running down the street outside my house, elated. People in my neighborhood do not usually wave U.S. flags, but they were celebrating with the flag. I felt so relieved, as if I could breathe again, and tears kept running down my face.
I and we lived through the Trump years. And I and many of us participated in a mass movement in which it was clear that the people of this country had a bottom line [a point beyond which they would not go]: racism, the demonization of human beings, not fighting for good health care, perpetuating a worldwide pandemic and climate crisis were not in the interests of human beings. So we worked hard, achieved the largest turnout of voters in the history of the United States, and defeated a president who enacted very dangerous policies. We voted to stand up to racism and elected a woman of color as the first female U.S. vice president.
Some would dismiss Biden or see him only as the lesser of two evils. Yet he was a surprise. He didn’t dismiss critical questions. He was disciplined in his approach. He ran a campaign without grandstanding [drawing attention to himself instead of the issues]. He showed integrity in some of his stands, particularly on racism, sexism, and unity. He did much less campaigning than usual, and less than his opponent, to model what should be done during COVID-19. (Wearing masks and staying home are political acts in the United States at this time.)
Many people I know had to notice the power of the electorate. They had to notice the power that voting could and did have—while still understanding that this was not a vote against capitalism (although it was against excessive greed). If we follow up the win by promoting the best policies, it could move us to the next stages of change.
I’ve realized that despite some of our feelings, many of us in the United States do care for our country. We see that we cannot get the kind of society we want without caring deeply for the people of this country.
Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts, USA
Reprinted from the RC e-mail discussion list for leaders of women
(Present Time 202, January 2021)