Yes, the election season is all but over but the movement towards a more perfect nation continues still. And THAT result remains in OUR hands, in ALL of our hands. It is (and always has been) in our hands regardless of whether “our guy” or “our gal” wins or loses.
So, let’s not give up OUR power.
The ball is in OUR hands to make our communities better places to live and to work, and our streets safer places to be. The ball is in our hands to greet each day with optimism and joy, rather than pessimism and fear. The ball is in our hands to make common cause with our neighbors. And yes, the ball is in our hands to find common ground with our opponents.
It is in OUR hands, each of our hands, to make this great nation of ours more perfect still.
So, what will my hands, my voice, my heart make of this day that is now before me?
What will we ALL make of this day before us?
Share your answer with me in the comments.
Missy Park
Founder
Thank you Missy for your message of HOPE. It IS absolutely in our hands to be actively engaged in the solution. Bringing our talents to the restoration of our nation!
Missy, Thanks for your calming words.
There are tough days ahead.
The blame game has started as to why the blue team lost so many House seats and doesn’t look to take the Senate. Then there are those carving up the spoils of a presidential win, great theater, as the up-and-comers challenge the old guard.
The blue team didn’t pick up the hoped for state houses, so the red team with draw the new district lines as they did ten years ago. The 2020 census will shift House seats; CA is expected to lose a seat for the first time ever, NY may lose a couple more, and more loses are expected in the upper mid-west. As people move out of blue states, the south and west are picking up seats, many red. The balance of power continues to shift away from the traditional blue strongholds.
With the largest turn out in history why did the president get 26% of the non-white vote, 28% of the LGBTQ vote, 55% of the white women vote, 13% of black men and 8% of black women, all big increases from 2016, according to exit polls?
Didn’t they see the campaign ads or are they better off than they were four years ago?
Lots of questions. You can be sure the red team wants the blue team to stay just as it is.
I believe it’s time to step up. I do not live or have walked in those shoes but it is time for change. We can only move forward, learn from our past and look to the future. I am ready to help make the change I believe one person can make a difference and everyone should try.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with the author’s sentiments. It’s interesting that so much more is READ into her paragraphs as I read the following comments. Where does she say, “forgive and forget?” Where does she say that “half the nation thinks racism…is no big deal.” The author calls for “the movement for a perfect nation…remains in our hands.” To her question, “What will we make of this day before us?” It is in my POWER to begin the day with a prayer of thanks for this Great Nation that I live in. I will use kindness and consideration to all who I approach today and HOPE my behavior is contagious.
I have racist neighbors, neighbors who are always ready with their flags and signs and intimidation of anyone who looks or acts differently. They have not changed and never will. I’m not going to extend a hand to them. First they have to rediscover their humanity.
I will open my heart and mind to be a better LISTENER. Really listen. Not listen while thinking about what I’m going to say next. Just LISTEN and absorb what the other person is saying without judgement, without an agenda, without defensiveness.
So basically now that left finally got its way can stop the media daily pessimism and fear mongering, the sun will shine and we must play nicely which really means oppress dissenting views. Just forgive and forget war waged on conservative women and even more so conservative women of color. Be quiet and be good girls. “Until there are 9” doesn’t mean 9 who must all think the same.
I am also a conservative woman. Like you, I am not about to sit down and shut up just because some don’t like my views. To be fair, this post was made before the election, so I don’t think the author’s intent was to imply that a liberal win would mean sunshine and unicorns.
What a great message of HOPE – thank you! A great reminder that we can all live together even with all our differences. There are extraordinary possibilities in front of us!
It can be hard NOT to wake in fear if you’re Black. Appreciate the sentiment of this post but please remember so many can’t live their lives without fear of being harmed or worse because half the nation thinks racism and police violence is no big deal. Cant order from you any longer, and that deeply saddens me.
Very well said. Especially the part about finding common ground. Two things I have been making more of an effort to do: 1 Never say to someone on social media what you’re not willing to say to the person’s face. 2 Listen with the intent to understand, rather than the intent to reply.
Yes, this also is very well said.