Compared to 2016 I was prepared this time, in case of Dejablue. I was hopeful but not confident. So, I did what I normally do - prepare to wrap myself in a cocoon for a couple of months with comfort reads. Prior to November 3rd I ordered a bunch of books - "Transcendence', "Magna Carta', "Arctic Dreams", "Braiding sweetgrass"(you can see the theme) and told myself have a little faith in the system and the people and trust Truth will eventually out! There was one night of hopelessness this past week and I clung to the opening quote from Dan Jones' Magna Carta
I had to trust this, otherwise I had to painfully conclude that I am living in a Banana Republic. I am not a registered Democrat. I would like to believe that I will vote for the person and the platform and not for the party. Biden was not my first choice. Bernie was, but as I've mentioned many times, Barney the Purple dinosaur would have had my vote if he had stood against the incumbent. I understand Republican values even if I don't always agree with them. But I vehemently oppose a governance based on lies, division, and deception, one lacking human values of decency and empathy. I refuse to accept that a sexual assault perpetrator, a racist, a misogynist and a narcissist can represent America in its highest office.
I understand the anger people felt in 2016 and why they wanted something drastically different from what they've always had. However, this conman did not deliver anything for anyone besides himself and that makes me sad more than angry. I am happy that we have a normal human being, someone who has failed in the past, has experienced innumerable losses and therefore has empathy, and someone who is willing to learn from his mistakes, as our President. I am ecstatic that a woman is in the White House who has a name that so many of my aunts proudly carry. She carries my hope for a diverse America where immigrants can rise to the very top. While this euphoria is visible in me, I know that this is also the moment for deep soul-searching.
70M people voted for Trump. I am not going to dismiss them as racists or irrational. The two-party system and winner-takes-all voting mechanism leaves no room for nuances. There is not a way to say that I am for lower taxes but I am pro-choice or to say I am pro-life but i want healthcare for all, or to say I want climate action but don't want to give up my meat. Life is not black and white, but our electoral system is unfortunately Red or Blue. I also know when faced with changes that are outside our control we have a tendency to double down on our beliefs.
I now see Biden's appeal - he is known to make deals, known to compromise and reach across the aisle. But I hope the other side responds and reaches back. I want the Green New Deal, I want healthcare for all, and I want public education to be well funded, and I want a woman to be 100% responsible for her own body and her own choices. However 50% of the electorate is not going to have these exact same wants. I know that certain fights cannot be compromised (after all certain rights are inalienable), but are there other middle grounds we can seek? Can we fight systemic racism without completely de-funding the police? Can we provide healthcare in an affordable way without losing private option? Can we not pit the economy against covid as though it is one or the other? These might not be the conversations I wanted, but these are the conversations we need to have.
For many progressives this might not be what we aspired to, but the focus should be on driving changes bottoms-up. When changes happen at the local level in their community, people become less fearful and have time to get used to the change. I was thrilled to hear that Oklahoma elected its first Black, Muslim, non-gender binary person to its legislature. Missouri elected its first Black congresswoman. Where I live, the electorate voted for someone who is for mass transit as opposed to road-widening as a solution to our transit and climate change problems. To me, the persons occupying the White House should reflect our bigger aspirational ideals but true change begins at the local level.
Here I have a couple of things to say to Indian Americans. While we rejoice that 'one of us' has reached great heights, we should remember Kamala's mom's courage. Her participation in Civil Rights movement is a call to action in our times. Indians often view themselves as legal immigrants who are outstanding citizens because of our education and contributions to the economy. This was all possible thanks to the Civil Rights movement by MLK. We basically rode the wave and won the immigration lottery without putting our bodies on the line. That is why Shyamala Gopalan is my hero. Today when I support BLM or Black Mama's Bailout I do it as a tribute to what the Civil Rights movement did for people like me. Now that one of our own is going to be in the White House, let's acknowledge how we got here and pay our dues. Everyone from Tamil Nadu has a Kamala in their lives. The Kamalas I knew were fighters against all odds who overcame unprecedented challenges. I associate the name with courage and strength because of the people I knew in my family who bore that name. I wish Joe and Kamala all the very best as they face unprecedented challenges.
The men who stood at Runnymede in June 1215 and came up with the charter that challenged the excesses of the rulers had no idea that the document would inspire a middle aged immigrant amidst a nerve wracking election in the US in 2020. As I read more about it I was a bit disappointed that this was not all that we make it out to be, but that's the power of a symbol, especially one that has become synonymous with challenge to authority. While I will revel in symbolism for the next couple of weeks I know that meaningful action is needed to realize the ideals of democracy and I commit to that.
