A New Era for the American Free World

Rida Chaudhry- November 9th, 2020

Joe Biden and Kamala Harris have secured the nomination for president and vice president elects of the United States of America. Across the nation, instances of rejoice paraded the cities and the excitement of the results focused on the liberty of having Donald Trump finally out of office rather than celebrating Joe Biden as the next president. It was like the country was finally having a breath of fresh air.

Donald Trump inherited the office after a trivial election against Hilary Clinton in 2016 and since then has encouraged partisanship and divide across the nation.1 The harsh rhetoric that has circled the States in the last four years has resulted in a deeply resentful ideology that is rampant in a large portion of Americans, thankfully not the majority. Any government inherently relies on the satisfaction of its citizens, as elections are based on a party’s popularity with the majority of a nation and this foreshadows how further politics will occur. The 2020 election shows a perfect example of the working system in practice, democracy won in the face of the borderline tyrannical Trump administration.

CNN’s Van Jones put the sentiments of the American people perfectly upon hearing the news, “It’s easier to tell your kids character matters... It’s vindication for those who suffered”.2. These two statements powerfully tell the tale of Trump’s legacy of disrespect, unprofessionalism, and insensitivity. With the transition of a new leader comes the questions of how to begin to heal a nation with so many wounds. The COVID-19 pandemic and turbulent civil unrest dismantled the seemingly hegemonic American identity and has created quite the climate for Biden and Harris to take on a country of 331 million people. Joe Biden’s victory speech painted a promising future for all Americans, Republicans and Democrats alike, with an immediate recognition of the toxic partisanship that has replaced American soul. Pledging to be a president “who doesn’t see red states and blue states, only sees the United States”, the VPresident elect began his term with a goal of unification and reconciliation with what the “American soul” is. 3 From a leader who capitalized upon the differences among the community to one whose first promise is to unify. This transition of power, though tumultuous on the way, is exactly what the United States' needs.

This past summer, a series of protests erupted across the nation in solidarity for the black men and women who have suffered at the hands of law enforcement. Initially gaining traction with the tragic murder of George Floyd, the previous President condemned his death but made no attempt for healing the African American community. 4 This is a community that has built the country and suffered more grievances at the hands of the American government than anyone. Biden addressed these people who played such a large role in his victory, “You’ve always had my back, and I’ll have yours”.5. This simple promise, and recognition served as a milestone for what can be expected of the next leader. Biden used his victory speech to begin nursing the deep wounds of people of colour in America, the discrepancies between the systemic approach to bridging the gap between the racial haves and have- nots. This recurring subject exacerbated the ideological differences between Trump’s America and that of productive American society.

Where Trump lacked the ability to unify, Biden soared, “For all those of you who voted for President Trump, I understand the disappointment tonight. I’ve lost a couple of times myself. Butnow, let’s give each other a chance.”6 A light shined on a grim nation that had suffered a turbulent election at the hands of an even more so President. By embracing those who opposed them, the Biden Harris administration already leads with example and leadership. Giving one another a chance is a step in the right direction to heal a nation that has been through turmoil.

1 Baker, Peter. “A Long History of Language That Incites and Demonizes,” September 1, 2020. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/31/us/politics/trump-police-protests.html.

2 Alter, Rebecca. “Van Jones Cries Tears of Democrat Joy As CNN Names Biden President-Elect, November 7, 2020. https://www.vulture.com/2020/11/watch-van-jones-cries-on-cnn-reporting-biden-president-elect.html.

3 Phillips, Amber. “Analysis | Joe Biden's Victory Speech, Annotated,” November 8, 2020. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/11/07/annotated-biden-victory-speech/

4 Klein, Charlotte, and Chris Smith. “In Trump's Response to the George Floyd Turmoil, an Abject Failure of Presidential Leadership.” Vanity Fair, May 30, 2020. https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2020/05/05/trumps-response-to-george-floyd-turmoil-abject-failure-presidential-leadership .

5 Phillips, Amber. “Analysis | Joe Biden's Victory Speech, Annotated,” November 8, 2020. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/11/07/annotated-biden-victory-speech/.

6 Phillips, Amber. “Analysis | Joe Biden's Victory Speech, Annotated,” November 8, 2020. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/11/07/annotated-biden-victory-speech/.