It is Election Day 2020. According to the American Psychological Association, two-thirds of the American public, regardless of party affiliation, suffered anxiety in anticipation of this day. It is here. Does that mean the tension is over? Not exactly.
This morning there is anxiety about the outcome. Both sides really believe their candidate will win and, for the good of the country, should win.
A local man said, “If Trump loses, America is in trouble.”
Democrats believe if Trump wins, it is the end of that fragile experiment: democracy. All issues aside, they believe our form of government and way of life is on the ballot. So, when the result is determined, will America relax? Maybe not.
When the local man said America would be in trouble, another man, standing nearby, asked, “Is that a lament or a threat?”
Apparently there is another step before America relaxes. For the first time in our history, there is a question about whether there will be a smooth, peaceful transition of power. Will the loser gracefully concede? If Trump loses, will there be violence? Will every white supremacist group band together, brandish firearms and march forth, loudly declaring civil war?
If Biden wins, will the socialists materialize from wherever socialists materialize from and take over the levers of power? Well …
This is not prognostication; it is observation. The only armed militias in the streets are wearing MAGA hats. If they declare their new civil war, put your money on the U.S. Army. If they foment locally and intermittently, bet on the National Guard.
The only self-proclaimed socialist in the mix is a septuagenarian from Vermont. Bernie Sanders doesn’t look dangerous, and he will have to get the votes to change anything. That is, he will have to do a thing he was unable to do for 40 years in public life.
This is not to minimize the anxiety. Fear and anger are normal human emotions, but fear of the bogeyman and violent anger are not acceptable in civilized society. What we need is nonpartisan consensus. The health of the country, our form of government, the defense and protection of the Constitution should be above politics. Those three things should bring everyone to the table nodding in unison. There should be absolute zero tolerance for anyone who threatens any or all of those things. So, if we all come to the table and protect our country, will the anxiety be put to rest? Yes, but don’t count on it. So, is there any good news? Yes.
The early voting was incredible. In some states, the number of early voters exceeded the total number of voters in 2016. In 2016, of the approximately 179,000,000 eligible voters, statisticians estimate, 40,000,000 stayed home. The underpinning of democracy, the act that gives the power to the people, was sloughed off by approximately 40,000,000 eligible voters. No more.
Threaten to take the vote away by suppression in advance, violence en route to the voting booth or in the courts afterward, and lo and behold, America shows up. We don’t know who the early voters were or how they voted, but we know people were voting in historically large numbers. If they were a mix of Democrats, Republicans and Independents, then we have achieved nonpartisan consensus — not in the House, not in the Senate, but at the polls. All agreed: Don’t mess with my right to vote. Now that is a good thing. Is there another? You bet.
Things we took for granted, such as the U.S. Post Office, were threatened. It brought to our attention that, in this country, we created very good things for the benefit of all our citizens. The stress placed on our government showed us how our system works. Knowledge and awareness are good things. We see that there are things worth protecting and worth fighting for.
We were inheritors of our way of life and our government. We did not have to fight for it. Maybe that is why we took things for granted and sloughed off our rights. Maybe it is good to know we might have to work and fight to hold on and perpetuate what was given to us by our forefathers. Maybe it is very good to remind us what can happen if we do not.
So put aside anxiety. Instead, prepare to observe and understand what happens next. Maybe we were complaisant and just a little spoiled by the sacrifices of our forefathers. Now be willing to fight for what is ours. It is our turn to defend and preserve our Constitution.
If Trump loses and refuses to leave, we must, as one nation, tell him “so long.” If we do not, our way of life crumbles and this is the last morning of the Republic.
If Biden loses, we must be prepared to fight on against any intrusion into the balance of power and the proper execution of justice.
My father had fun asking, “Want to know the secret of life?” And answering, “Keep breathing.” So breathe, don’t cower and stand ready to fight for right no matter who wins.
