A time of relief and reflection
A mountain view from Howe Hill Road in Pomfret, Vermont. (Gareth Henderson Photo)
For many Americans, the prevailing feeling over the weekend was one of relief, after the 2020 presidential race was called for Joe Biden on Saturday and supporters celebrated throughout the country.
A record 75.5 million voters brought in the victory for Biden and Kamala Harris, who became the first woman and the first person of color to be elected vice president. The announcement struck an emotional chord for many, including CNN commentator Van Jones, a Black man and a father, who tearfully expressed relief at the Democratic victory on Saturday. During his moving remarks, he alluded to the increased racism minorities around the country have felt during their lives over the past four years. Media outlets have reported that Black voters were essential to Biden's success over Republican President Donald Trump in battlegrounds like Pennsylvania and Georgia.
"It's a vindication for a lot of people who have really suffered," Jones said on CNN, reacting to the result.
He also mentioned George Floyd, the Black man who died under the knee of a Minneapolis police officer earlier this year while saying he couldn't breathe. The killing sparked worldwide protests against racial injustice, and also shone a spotlight on the struggles of people of color in the U.S.
"You know 'I can't breathe' — that wasn't just George Floyd. That was a lot of people who felt they couldn't breathe," Jones said. "You're waking up every day and you're getting these tweets ... and you're going to the store, and people who have been afraid to show their racism are getting nastier and nastier to you."
While there are different views on the election result, Jones noted "for a whole lot of people, it's a good day."
"This is a big deal, for us to be able to get some peace, and have a chance for a reset," Jones said.
He also brought up character, saying the outcome showed the character of the nation still mattered. Indeed, preserving the values of decency, empathy and compassion were frequently brought up during the Biden campaign, as values that still represent the American people. Those qualities were often mentioned in the context of building unity, a theme often emphasized by the president-elect, who has pledged to work for supporters and non-supporters alike.
Clearly, the election victory was a major one, though sharp divides remain throughout the country. That makes unity-building hugely important, especially since 71 million people voted for Trump — and some of them continue to support the president's legal challenges in battleground states.
Thankfully, the election moved forward in a peaceful manner, when many were worried it may not. It's important to recognize the incredible dedication of election workers — who will likely face the task of recounts in Georgia and Pennsylvania. The voters showed up in historic numbers, and by doing so, they showed this all-important institution of voting is alive and well.
Beyond the vote, the next way to strengthen our country is to begin to heal it. On Saturday after the Biden-Harris victory was declared, Republican Vermont Gov. Phil Scott congratulated the winners and supported their efforts to heal divisions.
He urged everyone to "rise above the anger and divisiveness" and focus on our common humanity.
“We can start by treating those with whom we disagree on public policy or politics with dignity and respect, knowing vigorous debate can still be civil," he said. "We can listen to, and learn from, others — putting ourselves in another person’s shoes. And we can work to find common ground rather than creating conflict."
Scott described perfectly what must happen to heal division: local action. National unity can't be built without individual Americans deciding they're going to engage in the work as well. That includes learning, and specifically, learning from people of different backgrounds and listening to their views before forming a conclusion. Now is an important time to begin those efforts toward listening, gaining understanding and laying a foundation for progress. Together, we can calm and leaven the national conversation, and lift it to a higher place where people want to participate in solutions. That will go a long way toward addressing key issues, like systemic racism, and bringing Americans together for the greater good.
— Gareth Henderson
