Some Thoughts…
As I fail to fall asleep, some thoughts on the eve of the most consequential election in US history…
I will preface this by saying that I will most probably not be persuading anyone at this point. The electorate has all but made up its mind: Joe Biden will receive millions of more votes than Donald Trump and, as polling suggests, will win enough votes in enough states to secure an Electoral College victory.
If you are voting for Joe Biden, or already have (as I have) — I commend you. For being a responsible citizen. For choosing science. For choosing decency, compassion, hope. You are on the right side of history.
If you are voting for Donald Trump, or already have, well… I don’t quite know what to say. He is cruel and hateful. He has given white supremacy a voice; embraced anti-intellectualism. He has betrayed his own country and allies, and stood up for dictators. He has lied to no end, misleading the public about a pandemic that has claimed the lives of more than 230 thousand Americans.
He has set the US on a fast course toward authoritarianism: Delegitimizing the media. Asking foreign entities to interfere in an election. Gassing peaceful protesters.
Just within the last few months of the campaign he has ordered his Postmaster General to slow down the USPS while baselessly claiming that the voting process is unsafe and rigged — this is, after all, his clearest path to victory.
(By the way, extra irony points if you voted for Trump by mail: he wants your ballot thrown out. Lol.)
As I filled out and mailed my ballot last week, I felt a great sense of pride and responsibility: this was my first time voting in a presidential election (in 2016, I was a few months shy of 18).
I also thought of my grandfathers. I thought about the lessons they taught me, and the values they instilled in me.
They were everything Trump stands against.
They were immigrants. They were self-made. They were honest and charitable and kind. They were proud Jews and proud Democrats.
In the 60’s, my mother’s father (who passed away in 2014) registered as a Republican just so he could vote against Nixon twice.
In 2016, after the shocking election results, my father’s father (then 96) proclaimed that he hoped he’d stay alive long enough to vote Trump out. Sadly, he died in December 2017. Shortly before, while in the hospital, a doctor tried checking his cognitive state and asked him if he knew who the president was.
“Unfortunately,” was his response.
While they are no longer with us, it is safe to assume who they’d be supporting this year. My grandmothers agree.
I honestly don’t know where I’m going with this. Decency and compassion should win out. Hate and cruelty will probably lose.
I just pray to God that I’m right.
