~:[CH9 - Day 312]:~ A Letter to America
I am just one vote of the almost 150 million who cast a ballot on election day. I may not be in a place to write a letter to America, but if we each use our voice, we can become a chorus of voices. What we do with that voice is up to us and so is the way we act as we move forward. As Biden said in his acceptance speech, we may be opponents, but we are not enemies. The last four years and even longer have been a brutal battle, where we've left each other bruised and beaten. We've teetered on the edge of opponent and enemy and it's led us into darkness and despair. The divide I see in this nation is deep, but we must try and see that while it will take time, we can slowly rebuilding the bridges we burned.
Many Republicans saw the problems that existed and cast their ballots for Biden. They saw that while ideologies differed and policies were not aligned, that character was an important factor. It's hard to side with someone who you don't agree with, but sometimes you have to see what is needed to solve the problems at hand. I've heard many argue that it's not the fault of one person or that one person cannot repair all that is wrong with this nation. Biden himself said this is the case, which is why this is a calling to Americans, to put your differences aside and work towards repairing and healing this nation. Only fighting for our side while not listening or cooperating with the other is what got us to where we were today. While it existed before Trump camp to office, it was made worse by the negative and divisive rhetoric he spread. We are better than that.
It was a joy to see people so overjoyed with a sense of relief after the election was called. I too felt that sense of joy and relief, but that celebration will be short lived if we don't do our part. We must be willing to ALL make the sacrifices to get this pandemic under control. We must figure out a way to keep the country moving forward, but that also will take people following rules and doing their part. As while you want to celebrate, it's not a time to gloat or to hate on those who were on "the other side," but rather follow the same message Biden wishes us to all hear, the only way to repair this nation is if we become one, not red, not blue, not in between, but united.
There are many who are pessimistic about the road ahead and it's understandable. It will take time, but it will go faster if we do our part, if we find it in ourselves to forgive, to listen and to welcome strangers just as much as we welcome those who were alongside you during this journey. Let's understand that after a brutal argument or fight, we have two choices, to continue to fracture or to begin to heal. Character, not policies, will be the foundation of our rebuilding process.
To our elected and appointed leaders, know that your decisions will make or break this nation. The people have spoken with their vote. While you have a responsibility to represent your constituents, you have a greater responsibility to represent this nation. Do what is in the best interests of this nation and not yourselves or simply your constituents. All parties have engaged in tactics that were focused on re-election or "blocking" the opponent, but your job is to negotiate and find a solution, which means making concessions. I heard so many politicians in their campaigns talking about the need to work across the aisle, as they send blame to the other side, it's time to stop. The respect for our politicians might be at an all time low, just like the morale in this nation, but it's our time to building rebuilding what we destroyed one block at a time.
I remind us all that this process will take time. We must first begin to work on ourselves, to reflect and figure out how do we make ourselves better people. As I taught during my religion unit, the similarities of people of all faith is that we want to treat everyone with respect, fairness and equality and even those who have no religion, I hope that you believe in the this idea. If we can rebuild on this foundation, our nation will be unshakeable. Why? We are a diverse nation and we must celebrate it, rather than letting that divide us.
Together let's repair the institutions that are broken and work against this ideal. Instead of cancelling those who work against the ideals we hope to have as the core of the rebuilding process, let's use it as an opportunity to teach, to learn, to grow and even to rehabilitate. "Cancelling" someone does nothing more than create a greater divide, rather let's see if we can lend our hand to those who have fallen and maybe they too can be part of this movement to heal. We all make mistakes and bad decisions, we all get lost and lose sight of where we are headed, but that doesn't mean we cannot get back on track. Someone will never be willing to change, but at the very least, we must look towards giving them the opportunity.
There will be a lot of hard discussions and battles going forward, but let's use it as an opportunity to unite by listening to each other and by finding opportunities where there are differences. Instead of seeing differences, let's see diversity; instead of problems, let's see opportunities to change; and instead of seeing fractures, wounds and division, let's see an opportunity to heal and work together. Down the stretch, Biden emphasized a positive message, imploring us to unite and I think if we can find a way to put down our pride and repair what is broken, we can become one nation, UNITED.
I am just one vote of the almost 150 million who voted this election, but I am one more voice calling for unity, change, and asking the people of this nation to give ourselves a chance to heal. With every voice that follows, we can create a melody that will inspire others and building something that nobody can topple. We may be opponents, but not enemies and at the end of the day, we're all Americas. Let's all shine our lights so we can rise of out this darkness so we can begin to heal this fractured nation. It won't happen overnight, but if we keep moving forward, we will get there.
