What were you doing the morning of November 7th when the Presidential election was called for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris?
I was sitting exactly where I am now, in front of my computer, having my first cup of tea, MSNBC on mute, slacking with my Feel Good Voting colleagues about the fact that the results were clear and suddenly a co-worker exclaimed that CNN called it.
“WE WON!”
Wolf came running from the bedroom. We embraced, sobbed while laughing, dancing and screaming. My phone was going crazy. I was spinning in circles not sure what to do first or next. I grabbed my car keys, ran outside, and honked the car horn to let the world know that JOE BIDEN AND KAMALA HARRIS WON!
Neighbors started gathering in the street. Champagne bottles popped, Sharon Jones “This land is your land” and the theme from Rocky played on a portable speaker while Wolf danced with our American flag. Masked up and overwhelmed with relief and excitement. One of my soul sisters said she felt a sense of relief like she had never felt before, not even after childbirth.
This was the moment we were waiting for. A glimpse of light and hope, a way out of the darkness, an opening onto something better.
WE DID IT!
Everyone of us stood resilient and fierce in the face of authoritarianism. We were steadfast in our resolve that this is not who are as a country, as a community, and as individuals.
This was not a Blue win and Red loss, even though that’s how it’s been messaged. This is a victory for humanity, the planet, truth, Democracy, and a future filled with possibilities to make lives and our world better.
For four years we marched with a shared values, and an understanding that the systems have failed. Yet, we persisted knowing the people and our planet matter. Caring matters. Making sure we are all well matters. And on November 3rd, we loudly proclaimed, in historic proportions, that VOTING MATTERS.
Another soul sister often says, “everything Trump touches turns to shit.” It really does. He’s been shitting on Democracy for decades. Shitting on black and brown people his whole life. Shitting on contractors who he’s stiffed. Shitting on a gold toilet as if his shit is the best shit of all. And now, he’s spending his last days of a vengeful Presidency shitting on the peaceful transition of power.
His refusal to concede is dangerous and unprecedented, yet predictable and desperate. It’s a disgrace. And, while he is a bumbling, lazy, unfocused attempt at a dictator, his actions decay trust in systems that, while imperfect, still have an organizing function. Some may say the systemic demise is for the best. I subscribed to a remodel ideology rather than a tear down and rebuild.
All the while, I remind myself that his constituents, our fellow American citizens, are behaving much in the same way we behaved four years ago. We did everything in our might to reject his win. We funded a Wisconsin recount sponsored by Jill Stein. We bombarded electors with pleas to be faithless. The difference was that Hillary Clinton conceded and Barack Obama followed the transfer of power protocols.
Today members of the GOP and right wing media participating in Trump’s dangerous charade. They joined trump in shitting on Democracy. So what are we going to do in this moment? Are we going to laugh it off, become numb, wait for the transition to happen on Jan 20? Are we going to rant about it on social media? Are we going lean on the media to report the truth? Are we ready to keep fighting for our Democracy?
The Georgia runoff is 46 days away. Winning those two seats takes McConnell out of power. McConnell who is still confirming unqualified judges to the courts as I type. McConnell who is on another recess, with hundreds of unsigned bills + the Heroes Act on his desk, which would prevent millions of Americans from poverty. McConnell who vowed to make Obama a one term president. McConnell who refused Merrick Garland a hearing before the Senate Judicial Committee. McConnell who laughingly jammed through Amy Coney Barrett when millions of people had already voted.
This isn’t McConnell’s Government, it’s our Government. This land is our land. Listen to the lyrics Sharon Jones sings and understand that there is a breakage in the dam and an attempt to prevent Biden from entering office. They will lose, already have, and yet what they are doing is dangerous. For our future, for national security, and for the well-being of all us.
Civic engagement is like brushing your teeth, you may not always want to do and good dental hygiene is a life saver.
Here’s the actions I recommend taking. Please note, I’m done saying Easy Activism. From here on out, it’s more like healthy habit activism.
VOLUNTEER FOR GEORGIA RUNOFF.
Covid relief, immigrants, healthcare, wages, the environment are all depending upon this. Some people believe a divided Government is good for Democracy. Not with McConnell at the helm. He will block appointments and jam the system so that the Biden administration fails. We are too fragile for that to happen.
Phone Bank. Common Power based here in Seattle is an excellent organization quite fun to phone bank with. It feels really good helping Jon Ossoff and Reverend Warnock. I’m serious. DO IT!
Donate. I don’t typically donate to candidates directly. I recommend donating to Fair Fight who has the best ground game in town.
STAY VIGILANT
Reverend Warnock’s response to a man shouting “Lock Him Up” is something to consider. He said, “we’re not going to become that which we resist.” It’s challenging to not wish ill and want trump and klan to know the pain they cause and yet, our work is to protect and safeguard all we hold sacred. Others will punish the misdeeds. And when it’s time for punishment, when those hurting our Democracy are no longer in office, we can rise our voices and call for justice. Until then, keep posting, keep resisting and keep the faith.
With love and endless gratitude -
:: Genessa