Such was the choice presented to America in one of Harris's closing speeches prior to the election. With a clearcut stark difference, the choice was presented as a definite differential. Harris's 'lift up' philosophy with a culmination of victory for one who would be a "president for ALL Americans". Trump's victory meaning an America touted as the shame of the world, broken down, last legs, needful of an administration championing the idea and practice of revenge and retribution, with firing squads primed to shoot people "in the face". Lift up vs beat down. Civil and civic behavior vs savagery and authoritarianism.
While I have doubts as to the rather Pollyannish view of an America consisting once again of a union of its various tribes, able to discourse in civic and civil tones, these doubts fade into insignificance when compared to the guaranteed dystopian world of a Trump presidency. He would be the last duly and democratically elected president of what would become a defunct USA.
Instead of attempts to reunite this country, to remind us of all of our shared 'Americanness', this nation would further devolve into terrorized sectors. ruled by firing squads primed and ready to shoot enemies of Trump in the face, as promised. From the horse's mouth direct. As extreme as that sounds, I have no doubt of its implementation based on past behavior and the ever-rising decibels and frequency of shrill hate and vows of revenge emanating from his twisted mind and mouth.
Violent rhetoric inevitably leads to violent deeds. So history has taught us, so history has bled us. There are those who treasure those terrible lessons of history. They strive to recreate them, to reinstall terror, and amass unbelievable wealth and power, to rule via fear and threat. To stifle and brutally crush all attempts to better the condition of mankind and restore rights and hopes and dreams. It is time, way past time that we wake up and see reality and its truth, clearly and undeniably. It is time we recognize the hard work which must be in place, ever ongoing if we are to save ourselves from ourselves and the consequences of our own stupidity. It is time.
America is not perfect. It was not born of perfect motive. It is not perfect and will never be so. That is because Mankind is not perfect and is charged with the responsibility to ever strive to reach perfection. What must be perfect is our realization and acceptance of that fact and its import. We are in control of ourselves, our fates, our future. We can pray to the G-d we call by many names, ask for help, to 'have our collective back', but bottom line- we must grow up and accept the yoke of responsibility that is the burden laid upon us.
We now stand on the cusp of history. We have a maximum choice. It is a choice of a future of our own creation. Personally, I await the results of the election with great trepidation. Will those trained to stop the election actually attempt to do so? Could they actually succeed in halting the counting, changing the totals? Will they use physical violence to achieve their misbegotten aims? Are we so far from what we once were supposed to be? Are we actually standing on the brink of another Civil War?
Can we? Will we? Do we want to wake up in time to understand our precarious condition? We are standing on a crumbling ridge. The ground beneath our feet is broken. The grains of sand no longer hold together. The rocks below await us. Or do we have the sense and enough time to grab hold of each other and take one giant, two giant, three giant steps back, in unison and confidence and trust and come to our senses? There are so many problems in this world that need solution. Bringing about those solutions will not be easy. But then again, what is? We are holding ourselves hostage. We are the captors of ourselves. Only we have the key to unlock the cells and the shackles which bind us. Only we. Only with sacrifice and understanding can we stop tragedy in its tracks and build a better future for all.
Maybe. Let's see what Wednesday morning is all about.
Vote.
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