Listening to President-Elect Joe Biden’s speech this evening, one of the phrases he used to describe this moment was ‘inflection point.’ While I had a basic grasp of what he meant when he used this term, I nevertheless felt the urge to look it up.
Dictionary.com set forth four main definitions, with the second definition having six sub-headings. I wasn’t expecting that many options. However, it was the fourth entry that described the situation most accurately:
Mathematics. a change of curvature from convex to concave or vice versa.
When I read that definition, I ‘saw’ and understood.
Imagine a Contact
Imagine a ‘hard’ contact lens, a concave surface, face down on a table. The election of Donald Trump four years ago essentially had us, as a country, ski boarding down the curvature of that contact lens toward an untimely and devastating crash landing into the table.
Suddenly, however, through the election of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, we’ve reached an inflection point. This is where the concave shape of our trajectory changes completely. The contact flips so that it is convex, tilting upward.
Now, instead of barreling toward a future that has us destined for a metaphorical face-plant and certain death, we’re heading upward. And not just any old ‘upward.’ No, where we’re headed, the sky’s the limit.
It’s a new day. All of us can dream new dreams – but especially, our little girls. Our country reached an inflection point and the trajectory of our journey has changed.
We – they – can set their sights where there are no limits. We – they – can reach for the stars.
I’m sitting here on the couch, alternately falling asleep from sheer nervous exhaustion, then suddenly waking to hear yet another update on the count of the votes across the country. It would appear (from MSNBC’s uber-number-cruncher Steve Kornacki) that between the time I post this and when I wake up tomorrow morning, there’s an extremely high probability that Pennsylvania delivers the presidency to Joe Biden.
I have to say, the prospect of this is particularly sweet given DT’s sneering disparagement of Pennsylvania in general, and Philadelphia in particular.
There’s his stunningly tone deaf admission-against-interest statement when he campaigned in Erie (was that only last week?) basically admitting that he wouldn’t have been back visiting Erie if he hadn’t felt desperate.
And of course, his recent infamous statement, “Bad things happen in Philadelphia.” Hmm. I’m thinking there just might be some poetic justice coming DT’s way, courtesy of Pennsylvania.
Big Question
The question I’m facing now is whether or not I should try to stay awake to watch the call in real time. Yeah, I’m that confident. Why? Because it’s all down to the mail-in ballots. And the mail-in ballots have been yielding vastly greater numbers of votes for Biden uniformly, throughout the state. (Why? Because most people who believe in science and the contagiousness of Covid-19 and decided to be smart and vote by mail are Democrats. They also didn’t believe DT’s scare tactics about mail-in voting.)
It’s almost as if he shot himself in the foot by making all the bogus claims about mail-in voting. His scare tactics caused the vast majority of his supporters to vote in person, which then gave him a false sense of superiority and confidence on the evening of the election.
The results of the election have been blurred by the obfuscations of the current occupant of the White House. But tonight, and tomorrow, my sense is that everything is going to become crystal clear to all of us, including him.
Rainbow Selfie – with Kamala at our backs – Photo: L. Weikel
Eve of Our Future
Well, we’re finally here. The time to stand up and be counted, to let ourselves and the world know where we’re headed, has arrived. We’re here. We’ve arrived at the eve of our future.
What will that future look like? I don’t need to tell you. We all know the consequences – some of them immediate – of the choices we’ll be making tomorrow.
We either repudiate what’s been done in our name over the past four years (regardless of how well our portfolios or 401(k)s may have done – that is, if we’re lucky enough to have either) or we don’t. We either show the world 2016 was an aberration, a ‘black swan event,’ or we don’t. We either take a stand against some of the most barbaric, egregious policies and behaviors of any government, much less our own – or we don’t. We either commit to being a global partner and leader in addressing climate change, or we make it worse.
I could go on.
Justice, Integrity, Truth, and Respect
These are the qualities on the ballot tomorrow. And while we yearn to have these values restored within the White House, I sense there’s an even deeper craving for these values to be declared far and wide – and modeled everywhere – as qualities inherent in the way Americans treat each other.
What do we have to lose if we don’t vote, or if vote to retain the current president? E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G. He has declared his intentions. Are we listening? There are precious few who will benefit, while vast swaths of our country fall into abject misery.
Love, Compassion, and the Power of Diversity
I believe in us. I believe in our dignity and devotion to higher ideals than the value of the stock market or the country of our origin. I believe that deep down, all of us yearn to be treated with love and compassion. I believe in the wisdom of our forebears who succinctly espoused the greatest strength of our nation: e pluribus unum. “Out of many, one.”
Kamala Harris – Photo: L. Weikel
Rare Treat
As you’ve adroitly surmised from the accompanying photos, Karl and I were invited to an event today featuring vice presidential candidate Kamala Harris. Taking in the entire milieu as we waited for Representative Wild, Senator Casey, and others to arrive and speak, I will admit to feeling an overflow of emotion. Not wild abandon. Not screaming passion.; but a wellspring of hope and yearning for aspirational governance.
Speaker after speaker, from activists to representatives, spoke with conviction, yes. Each spoke with passion, a sense of commitment to change, and a demand for inclusion and diversity. But there was one thing not a single one of them brought to the table: cynicism.
Kamala Harris – 2 November 2020 – Photo: L. Weikel
Kamala Harris
I’ve paid attention to our politics. I knew from her resume and the interviews and debates I watched that Kamala Harris is a strong candidate. But there’s something extra you feel when you experience candidates up close and personal. It’s hard to define, but you feel their energy, perhaps a bit more of their essence.
And I couldn’t help but feel we were getting a chance to truly view the Eve of our future.
I’m not big on speeches. I listen to them when they’re in my face or given at a time that commands attention, such as the State of the Union. But if given the option? I usually pass and wait for the highlights later in the evening. Today, though, a campaign speech was given that was well worth a listen.
That was the case with me again today. I heard that Joe Biden was going to give a speech at Gettysburg and even saw clips of Trump supporters, sadly fulfilling the stereotypes, out and about protesting Biden’s arrival in this small central Pennsylvania town. It didn’t even occur to me again, quite honestly, to pursue watching or listening to that speech.
Late this afternoon, someone I know and respect suggested that this was an outstanding speech, definitely worthy of attention. I started listening, but had errands. I didn’t even get into it far enough to give it a chance.
Then tonight, after our walk, Karl and I had the tv turned up loud so I could hear it while I made dinner. We were watching a taped segment, and surprisingly, the host aired the full Biden speech at Gettysburg.
All I can say is that I’m glad the powers that be kept thrusting this speech in front of my nose. And I’m glad I finally listened.
We Really Truly Need This
And so, on the off chance that any of you may have eschewed the opportunity to listen to Joe Biden’s speech at Gettysburg on the afternoon of Tuesday, October 6th – exactly four weeks before election day – I am providing a link here. Note: the speech doesn’t begin until the 3:00 minute mark.
It’s only about 22 minutes long. I think you’ll find it’s worth it.
It’s a speech aimed at shifting perceptions, expectations, and aspirations.
If nothing else, we owe it to ourselves to allow for the possibility that it’s not too late to save our country from the carnage DT is relentlessly trying to wreak upon us. We owe it to each other, ourselves, and our children to dream this vision of our country into being: stronger, more diverse, more free than we’ve ever been in our history.
A Reminder
October’s not over yet, my friends. In fact, we’re only hitting the one week mark tomorrow. I’m guessing you’re possibly rethinking my entreaty to keep track of your perceptions of what’s going on all around us this month. If you haven’t been writing things down and keeping track yet…I challenge you to reflect upon the myriad of shockers we’ve survived already in the past seven days.
Time’s not up yet.
And as we continue to negotiate these turbulent beyond measure times, keep the embers of hope and determination reflected in Biden’s ‘Battle for the Soul of the Nation’ speech tucked away in your heart, refusing to be doused by all the awfulness being heaped upon us right now.
What an exceptional capstone to a remarkably challenging and unconventional Democratic Convention. I can honestly say that even four years ago, I don’t think I would’ve believed I’d hear so many politicians use the concepts of love, hope, and light, as the fundamental and most powerful arguments for their case to the American public.
Most shocking of all, to me, is the unabashed hue and cry for more love. Love for our country. Love for each other. Just typing these words makes my heart quicken and my breath catch in my throat.
I’ll admit it. I was a little nervous that Joe Biden would falter or come across as lackluster or perhaps lagging just half a beat off this evening. Perhaps this was because I heard him speak in Philadelphia back in September at the first ever Workers’ Presidential Summit, and while his sincerity was unquestionable (and his experience unassailable), he seemed tired. And maybe he was. I, for one, do not know how any of the candidates managed to criss-cross the nation and maintain the energy and enthusiasm called for to address tens, hundreds, and thousands of people day in and day out.
Clarity, Courage, and Fire
But when all was said and done, Joe got it done. And I guess that’s what being a leader for the times is all about. It’s doing what needs to be done when the moment presents itself. It’s seizing the opportunity when the gauntlet is thrown and coming through not only for yourself but for everyone who yearns for clarity, courage, and the fire to fight for all of us.
Speaking of clarity, courage, and fire, I doubt there was anyone who watched 13 year old Brayden Harrington metaphorically walk on a bed of hot coals in front of the entire nation (and probably not a small part of the entire world) and was not blown away by his unbelievable courage and grace. That segment spoke volumes about the character of both Joe Biden and Brayden Harrington, and I don’t think I’ll ever forget the powerful impact it made on me.
Rays of Hope and Light
I don’t have words that can improve upon this evening’s final speech. So I just want to leave you with this quote:
“Let us begin, you and I, together. One nation under God, united in our love for America, united in our love for each other. For love is more powerful than hate; hope is more powerful than fear; and light is more powerful than dark.
This is our moment. This is our mission.
May history be able to say that the end of this chapter of American darkness began here – tonight.”
The two words that stood out to me the most tonight as I watched the Virtual Democratic Convention were ‘empathy’ and ‘listens.’
Throughout the evening, these words – and many others, to be sure – were used to describe attributes Joe Biden brings to the table that differentiate him from the current occupant of the White House. The way Joe Biden embodies the essence of these two words in particular was very effectively conveyed in photo after photo as the night progressed. I have to admit it: I’ve always taken for granted the genuine affection for and interest in people that he has so readily displayed all these years.
Of course, Michelle Obama knocked it out of the park when she drove home the indisputable fact that we yearn for a leader who not only listens – to experts, to scientists, to advisors, to warnings, to facts, to the people he governs – but also has the inherent ability to imagine walking in the shoes of another and can imagine their pain, their fear, their sorrow, and their needs.
It is painful to witness this president’s lack of empathy. It is virtually impossible to dispute that there is something deeply, inherently damaged in him. And oddly, it is hard not to feel sorry for him (if only fleetingly) and his obvious inability to feel sorry for anyone other than himself. (That’s quite a pretzel – feeling empathy for a person who has none himself.)
New Moon
I’m glad this virtual convention is taking place this week. Tomorrow evening is the new moon. It is, in truth, the time when the moon is darkest, which serves as a decent metaphor for the very dark times we find ourselves in as a country and, in an unprecedented number, individually.
It’s sort of that ‘darkest before the dawn’ scenario. This is the time when we plant the seeds of new beginnings, new ideas, new approaches to life. This is when we realize that what we’ve been doing isn’t working, what we’ve had isn’t cutting it.
So what do we do? We dream our world into being. We collectively envision what it is we want to create in our country, in our government, in our lives, and we paint that image for all to see. We paint it for others through words and actions so they, too, can add their energy to the collective imagining or dreaming-into-being of the world we wish to create.
And there’s no better time than to do that planting, painting, and envisioning than at the new moon. So I feel this virtual convention was well-timed.
Virtual Convention
And I for one found the format of this ‘convention’ made it far easier to hear the speakers and grasp their ideas and passions. Interestingly, it made it easier, for me at least, to connect with the speakers, get a sense of who they were and listen to what they were saying. While I’m sure those who would have been delegates to the convention are lamenting the restrictions imposed by the pandemic, it seemed to me that if people are truly valuing the quality of listening, then this format was perfect for this unique time in our lives and the life of our country.
I’m looking forward to engaging in more listening this week. I yearn to believe there’s reason to hope we can reclaim the soul of our country.
And I have to admit, as a shamanic practitioner, I feel the concept of reclaiming (retrieving) the soul of our country could not be a more perfect metaphor for what is needed.
It’s not a stretch to figure out what the title of tonight’s post is referencing. When the announcement was made today that Joe Biden was selecting Kamala Harris as his running mate, I’d say my first reaction was a subdued, “Wow.” Not subdued because I was less than enthusiastic. My “wow” was quiet because it contained a surprised admiration that Biden had actually selected her.
There’s no question that she is absolutely qualified to both hold the position of vice president and step into the position of president should the need arise. But she has many other outstanding qualities that complement Biden and will combine with his strengths to create a formidable governing team. And boy, do we need a resurgence of good government.
Most of all, my “wow” was subdued because it surprised me. I was impressed with Biden’s self-confidence and maturity. And no, just because he’s 77 years old does not by any means translate into wisdom or maturity. Mere age alone does not confer self-confidence. Nor does it confer wisdom. And it sure as heck does not confer maturity.
Our Current President
Let’s face it. I don’t even need to write anything under this heading – it is self-explanatory. We’ve all been living (and dying) at the mercy of the whims of a person who lacks these very qualities that Joe Biden just exemplified in his choice of running mate.
The reason I was pleasantly surprised by Biden’s choice is precisely because so many men in his position (and yes, white men in particular, sad to say) would have been both intimidated by how roundly she scored points on him in that early debate and then vindictive as a result. Indeed, I seem to recall some relatively has-been male politicians (Ed Rendell springs to mind) recently being quoted as counseling Biden against choosing Kamala “because she was too ambitious” or “rubs people the wrong way.”
What a bunch of garbage. But when I heard that there were men, the Old Guard, so to speak, of the Democratic party weighing in on the danger of choosing a powerful, God-forbid ambitious woman, my heart sank. There it was again. That same old trope.
A Stellar Field
Let me be clear: I felt that the field of candidates from which Biden had to choose was extraordinary. And those candidates were all stellar in their own ways because he’d promised he would choose a woman as a running mate. And for ever (so far), especially in this country, for women to compete with men they’ve had to jump higher, be smarter, have thicker skin, be more creative, and do it all for less money. So I challenge anyone to honestly tell me they were surprised when it was obvious that the ten or so candidates he was vetting were all superlative candidates.
Given this state of affairs, he could not have made a poor choice. He could’ve made a safer choice – safer as far as his ego goes. He could’ve chosen someone thought to have a more deferential temperament. Or perhaps even more saliently (especially to some of the small men counseling him) he could’ve punished that uppity chick who chastised him on national tv using her own lived experience of being a child who benefited from the busing he failed to support.
Joy and Hope
After my initial, “Huh, wow,” response to hearing the news, I started watching the coverage of the selection on tv. The reactions expressed by so many commentators, activists, and politicians honestly made tears roll down my cheeks. For the first time in so long, I saw joy on people’s faces. I saw hope and heard a renewal of faith in the true nature of our country being expressed.
It felt like when we elected Barack Obama. For me at least, I was seeing an expression of unity and inclusion, a celebration of diversity and an expression of self-confidence that doesn’t require subservience to feel powerful. I was seeing an expression of our country and its values that so very many of us have yearned for and were perhaps beginning to despair of ever seeing again.
It’s overwhelming to consider how many people in our country feel invisible, disposable, voiceless, and worthless.
Which is why it was incredibly powerful to hear so many people interviewed this evening, including those who often do the reporting of our news say, “I feel seen.” Over and over, I witnessed the tears in their eyes. Saw the joy written all over their faces. Heard the hope tingeing their voices.
The election isn’t won yet. Not by a long shot. But the spontaneous expression of joy and hope I witnessed this evening was like a steady, yet gently soaking rainstorm on a vast landscape of parched cracked earth.
