This has been one crazy year and it’s coming to an end. However, many of the political stresses that have filled this year are far from over. The week-long election from our nightmares eventually came to a close, but almost a month later, there is still tension in the White House.
For those who may have missed it, here’s a recap:
Joe Biden is the projected winner of the 2020 presidential election with 306 electoral votes. However, President Trump has refused to concede claiming the election was fraudulent. After many baseless lawsuits and recounts, he has accepted that Biden will transition into the White House. He has said that “it’s going to be a very hard thing to concede,” but that he will leave the White House come Inauguration day.
In better news, this election was a monumental one for women, people of color and members of the LGBTQ+ community. First of all, Kamala Harris is vice president-elect, making history as not only the first woman, but the first woman of color. Sarah McBride was also elected as the nation’s first transgender senator. So, boundaries were broken and history was made. However, there is still so much anger and frustration nation-wide.
Protests and riots are still happening, COVID-19 is raging across the United States and the country remains divided. So many of our problems this year seemed to be centered around this election. Everything became politicized from human rights to mask-wearing, with Democrats and Republicans often on opposing sides. Now that the election is over, it’s becoming more apparent that these issues cannot be fixed by one political party. While Biden may be able to enact some positive changes, he cannot waive his magic wand and fix America. It’s bigger than that. It may seem that the list of problems in our nation keeps getting longer this year. In reality, it’s always been this problematic, we’re just finally bringing it to attention. Instead of thinking about 2020 as a year of problems, think of it as a year of realization and accountability.
So yes, I’m exhausted. This year has been an absolute mess and for many people, this election seemed like the “end-all-be-all.” Now, a month later, it’s become clear that no matter what happens politically, we have a lot of work to do.
A lot is happening with the White House, Senate and the House of Rep. It can be confusing and exhausting, but it’s important to remember that 2020 was a year of accountability and we can’t go back. We have a woman as the Vice President, we have more members of the LGBTQ+ community elected to political office than ever before and we have the power to continue taking steps in the right direction. It’s a month after the election and I’m exhausted, confused and emotionally drained, but more motivated than ever.
“Real change, enduring change happens one step at a time.” – Ruth Bader Ginsburg