It’s been a few months since I wrote here as I shifted most of my “essays” to posts on Facebook and Instagram. But this feels like it needs a permanent home.
At 11:30 local time the last precincts submitted the vote tally that pushed Pennsylvania solidly into a win for Biden, edging him over the necessary 270 electoral votes needed to win the Presidency.
I felt immediate relief. While I’m acutely aware that our work is not done, not for racial justice, equality, climate change, political reform, any of it, I still let out a breath I’d been holding for 5 years.
I am relieved that the next President is a man who can speak in complete sentences, with empathy and eloquence.
I am relieved that a liar has had his bully pulpit taken away so he can no longer poison the minds of people from our national press.
I am relieved that the voice and will of the people was heard, votes were counted and Biden prevailed.
I am thankful to the organizers who worked so hard, to those who fought to get to the polls, stood in long lines and submitted provisional ballots. I am thankful to the hardworking members of the election boards, counters, poll workers and the USPS for all their efforts. I’m thankful to every single person who cast a ballot for decency.
And my resolve remains, there are certain folks who are not welcome in my home because of the racist and evil they support in the world. They are the Taliban, the KKK and those who voted for Trump – they have their support of Trump in common and I choose not to host them, break bread with them or listen to them spew hatred.