Renewed hope

It was past midnight last Saturday when I chanced upon the news that Joe Biden is now the 46th elected president of the United States along with his running mate, California Senator Kamala Harris, now known as the first woman vice president.

I’ve been closely watching the US elections and have been praying for Biden’s victory. Some might say, it is not our business. But somehow, a Biden win gives me renewed hope that it will be a wake-up call for us as well because what the Americans showed us was the election was all about character, truth, and decency.

Donald Trump has sullen the image of America in the last four years in office and I felt the same way for our nation’s leader. Good for America that they only had to contend with Trump for four years and gave him a bitter send-off after one term while we have to contend with two more years of being led by someone who is an embarrassment to us.

There are so many similarities in their current leadership in the US and ours. Instead of unifying, both have been very polarizing. Instead of displaying dignity and integrity, both have become a laughingstock in the international landscape. Oh, let’s not even talk about the lies and the promises that remains to be that – promises!

Former chief-of-staff of the US Department of Homeland Security, Miles Taylor’s revelation of how the people in the White House relate to Trump when they are discussing issues is eerily similar to how our cabinet members and other officials deal with our president.

Taylor said that when Trump issues something so outrageous, people around would remain silent, look at each other questioningly or pretend to jot something down, but none had the courage to tell him to his face how wrong he was.

Well, that’s even better than most of our officials here who would even applaud at invectives thrown by the president and keep silent on his comments against women and rape. Their silence is deafening as they play safe, thinking that the president can still help their political career come 2022.

Admittedly, that may still be possible as surveys claim Duterte still enjoys popularity. However, so much has happened and this pandemic has become a bitter pill for everyone, just like in the US. It showed us who are truly worthy to be called leaders. It led to the awakening of many who have been silent in the past and who are now courageous enough to demand what is right and it gives me hope that more and more will see the truth.

I am glad that Biden got a wide lead over Trump as that would hopefully keep the latter’s supporters at bay to accept the results of the elections even if their president continues to mouth that it was a fraudulent process.

Some Republicans have come out to denounce Trump’s claims of cheating and if more of them, particularly those who won seats in the Senate and the House, will publicly rebuke the president, then perhaps, Mr. Orange will peacefully step out of office sans the threat of litigation and work with Biden in uniting the people.

Of course, all is not over as the whole world watches how Americans will react to the Biden victory. Both sides have taken to the streets to either celebrate or protest. A coverage in Atlanta showed the opposing parties, up in arms, with Trump’s supporters refusing to accept the election results.

That did not stop jubilant supporters of the blues though as many in Washington D.C. trooped to the White House to chant they are ready to reclaim it. In New York and in other major cities, people were partying in the streets, many of them young voters who made sure that this time, they will let their voices be heard. And true enough, this election just drove people out of their comfort zones to cast their votes and make it count.

It was very festive in Delaware where Biden and Kamala made their victory speeches capped by fireworks.

Kamala’s speech was very moving as she thanked all their supporters for choosing “hope and unity, decency, science, and truth!”

“While I may be the first woman in this office, I will not be the last. Because every little girl watching tonight sees that this is a country of possibilities,” Kamala added.

Biden on the other hand promised that he will be a president who will reunite the Americans. “I pledge to be a president who seeks not to divide but unify. Who doesn’t see red states and blue states, only sees the United States. I sought this office to restore the soul of America, to rebuild the backbone of this nation, the middle class, to make America respected around the world again, and to unite us here at home.”

Ah, that brought some tears with a prayer that someday soon, we too will have our own new leader who can bring us out of this situation, start the national healing, and more importantly, bring decency and respect back in our society.