Post-Election Gratitude and Wonder: Part I.

More than a month has lumbered by since the majority of the country (not as large as I thought) handed the nation over to another round with their chosen one, their spoken reason “the economy.” In the months leading up to this fate, I repeatedly turned over the question, does this nation have to fall to rubble before more people understand the necessity to re-envision the nature of civilization. One beyond smart TVs and toilets in every home, sky-blocking totems, reliable electricity, and billionaires and friends who buy and sell goods, people, and pristine land for show and tell, and above all else power. The answer to my question arrived, with crushing weight. Only now has my body-mind-spirit regained a sense of spaciousness, a lightness to my step, and with it, a preoccupation with two groups of people. One I hold with deep respect and gratitude and the other I hold with many questions.

Cassidy Hutchinson and Olivia Troye keep coming up for me. Two young women, former White House employees, who shared in public venues, the gruesome details of their work experience in the 2016 administration. Women who refused the silence demanded by threats and too often action. I feel a certain responsibility for their safety, to care about it. Do all of us in a community of people wanting a new day in the U.S. have a responsibility to care about their well-being?. I want to know how they are now. Do they move in the world with any sense of safety? Are they being held well?

  I think of Liz Cheney, a serious woman, unwavering in her commitment to clarity of mind and action, truth-telling, and preserving our democracy. She flashed her courage early on, an attribute traditional masculinity prides itself on, I am less worried about her life though, as I presume she has the resources for serious security and is no stranger to firearms. Her dad hunts, for sure.

Do we know, at this very moment how Ruby Freeman and her daughter, Wandrea ArShaye Moss, are doing? Election poll workers in 2020, they had to flee their home and their beloved community because of false allegations and threats made against them. And what about all those whose faces and names are invisible to the wider public, yet worked tirelessly and sleep deprived, to support the Harris/Walz team. Knocking on doors, making phone calls, organizing rallies, strategizing, registering voters, signing up to work the polls, donating repeatedly to the campaign, and bringing coffee and lunch to staff, to save time. Their hearts full of love. A loud, holy shout out to the Black women who are always in the vanguard of moving this nation towards the change we need.

Unlike some who believe winning is everything, I do not. Even though our candidates lost, there is still value in expressing deep gratitude for the effort and sacrifice many made, known and unknown, on behalf of going forward, not backwards. I think of the judiciary and their staff in New York City, D.C. and Atlanta who braved holding the line for judicial integrity, equity, and accountability for lawlessness, no matter the defendant’s acreage and power. D.A. ‘s Alvin Bragg, Fani Willis, Laticia James, Judges Merchan, Chutkan, Engoron, to name a few. I thank their families too, who lived the fear with them. My heart goes out especially to Jack Smith, all the time and excellence he and his team put into their legal cases, despite the menacing behavior they and their families endured, to no avail. Last but not least, a deep bow to Kamala and Tim, who represented the best of humankind; the exception, their veto of a Palestinian voice at the DNC while welcoming the voices of a Jewish couple. Kamala and Tim crisscrossed the nation multiple times a day offering agendas beyond their personal gain –democracy, inclusiveness, breakfast programs for kids, a woman’s right to live, make decisions about her body, and affordable housing and medication.

To each and every one who contributed to a future of a more just, healed and democratic nation, it was not in vain. You are part of the hope that continues.

Thank you is way too small.