November 6, 2024

It looks like another gorgeous autumn day; but this isn't like any other day in history.  For many of us, the unimaginable has happened and undoubtedly, life as we knew it will never be the same. 

What we can't do...  

We can't forget who we are and what we believe in.  We can't let defeat polarize us further, turn into anger and hatred or lead to violence.  We must maintain our sensibility and civility.  We must not become them. 

What we need to do...

We need to adamantly champion truth.  We need to speak up and protect those who are vulnerable.  We need to advocate for education and climate change.  We need to fight for reproductive rights.  We need to actively support politicians who stand for democracy and bipartisanship.  And we need to not lose hope.

What we must remember...

We must remember that this election was democracy serving its prescribed purpose.  The majority made their choice, and accepting the results is supporting our freedoms in the most fundamental way.  

We must remember that differing opinions does not preclude loving one another.  We need to be tolerant of those we don't agree with for their right to their opinions--as we expect the same respect from them.  Remembering that varying opinions and the ability to express them is what makes for a democratic republic.     

We must remember that we lived through another unfathomable event in recent history--the Covid pandemic--and we did get through it.  Granted, life hasn't gone back to what it was before--any more than it did after other major world events--the Depression, WWII, the Vietnam war or 9/11.  But we came out the other end, not unscathed, but learning lessons, and determined--as Americans have always been--to get through whatever the future brings us. 

The sun's out, birds are chirping, and life goes on.