I awaken this morning with joy at the huge voter turnout across the country. No matter the result, large participation in our democracy is important and reflects an increased consciousness of our connection and values each individual’s ability to make a difference. I am also gratified that so many people report that they cast their votes for dignity, respect, and civility yesterday. It is reflected in the results in the House of Representatives where many candidates who supported hateful actions or tolerated hateful discourse were defeated at the polls.
Additionally, female candidates won hugely yesterday. For the first time in history over 100 women (about 30 of them newly elected, and many of them young) will be sworn in as members of Congress next January. It is wonderful to see such energy and enthusiasm and the great number of new faces and voices in the election.
Yet, I am also deeply sad today that candidates for governor in Georgia, Florida and elsewhere who advocated hate, tolerated or encouraged blatantly racist advertising and messaging against their African-American opponents and actively worked to suppress voting appear to have won in those states.
Although at the time of this writing, strong candidate Stacey Abrams (D) has yet to concede. Her opponent Secretary of State Brian Kemp (R) has garnered some 60,000 votes more than her. I can only pray that every single vote is fairly counted and accounted in that state.
Most indications are that Kemp, on the ballot for governor of Georgia, used his position as Secretary of State to make it harder for groups who historically vote for Democrats to cast their ballots Tuesday. We must do a much better job of ensuring that Secretaries of State across the country are committed to fair elections and pass laws that make such naked conflicts of interest less likely in the future.
However, it must be noted that Laura Kelly (D), a long time state legislator, is projected to have defeated Secretary of State Kris Kobach (R) for governor of Kansas. Kobach also used hateful speech and tactics to suppress voting and it doesn’t seem to have worked.
Again, I ask the universe to show us: How does it get much much better than this? What else is possible?
Thank you Sara:
I am grateful to reconnect to your wisdom in blog form and I basically agree with your assessment. I am grateful to have a clear message written with facts as truth, with accurate and respectful description of all participants. This style of communication is what I want to see, read and hear from our elected officials.
As a formerly active person in the realm of politics, I am re-entering the conversation out of inspiration for a third way of being in the political world today: civility, collaboration and true democracy is such a clear yearning of so many of us in all areas of our lives that I know it is seeking expression and that we must be ready to be the ones to reveal it.
My greatest joy is the electorate turning out to vote and with such passion for goodness, evident in so many place and the effect of that both in the state of being and the sharing of power.
My intention is to be part of what nurtures this hope and belief in the possibility of a respectful and more thoughtful way to conduct the business of implementing democracy and our American values in the social sphere, which must include deepening our capacity to listen for the shared desires of people we don't believe we have much in common with.
I would add that the greatest sadness to me about this mid-term and the entire frenzy around, even from public media, and the the prevalence of blame and avoidance of true responsibility for the conditions we find ourselves in, on the part of many in the top positions of leadership.
My greatest vision of possibility is that this polarity can be the stimulation to transform the pattern, by everyday people like ourselves committed to learning and nurturing it in our own spheres of influence.
Imagine what is possible if we are peaceful enough within ourselves to not feed the drama of the blame game or victim schism and instead, if we support clarity of what we stand for as citizens and how can we serve together, peacefully and united for the greater good.
Thank you for prompting me to think about what matters most to me about this powerful moment in history.