Joy Hope Freedom
Kamala Harris campaign poster.
Joy Hope Freedom
Before this year I’d never paid much attention to political conventions. I didn’t intend to this year either, until I heard that both Barack and Michelle Obama were scheduled to speak at the National Democratic Convention. They are high on my list of most admired individuals. Once I logged into the convention on my computer, I got hooked by the spirit, excitement and enthusiasm of all the participants and watched nearly all the remaining sessions. The shouting, clapping, sign-waving, dancing, singing, smiling and hugging were infectious, as speakers shared their hope for a better future and escape from the doom and gloom of a Republican Party taken over by a would-be despot who wants to abolish environmental protections, deport massive numbers of people, restrict medical services, ban books, sell public lands, privatize education, restrict voting rights, and make self-serving business deals with Putin and others of his ilk.
What do I do now to support Kamala Harris for President? My friends and I are writing postcards as part of the get-out-the-vote campaign. I found my 8-year-old t-shirt that says “A Woman’s Place is in the White House,” and am wearing it around town. I ordered two new shirts: one with a coconut tree and one announcing membership on the Harris-Walz team. I’ve donated money numerous times and work hard to suppress annoyance when each donation generates a request for more funds.
After all the stress in recent weeks and months worrying about whether Biden could or should serve another term, everything changed in just an instant. What happened to all the uncertainty about who the replacement candidate would be and what process would be followed to make the selection? The almost seamless transition to Kamala Harris as the Democratic candidate must have been the work of some very skilled and dedicated individuals working behind the scenes. The timing was perfect and the enthusiastic reception of the new candidate was stunning. I am grateful for their efforts.
Part of my excitement about Kamala Harris comes from having been a supporter of her candidacy four years ago. At that time, I thought she was clearly the best qualified presidential candidate, and I was stressed and frustrated when friends and commentators disagreed. Of course, I am thrilled that she’s been able to serve as Vice President, but that’s a position that has given her little visibility and one in which she was expected to support the president, not outshine him.
Watching our Vice President at the convention and in other settings has given me the satisfaction of seeing that I was right about her compassion, intelligence, and skills as a communicator. Her four years as Vice President have also given her invaluable experience nationally and internationally.
Please join me in supporting Kamala Harris for President! She is the leader we need during these challenging times. She brings joy, and hope that freedoms that have been taken from us will be restored and protected in the future. Together, we can win!