The political chaos and confusion of the 2020 Presidential election clarified how some in the elite power structure of this country continue to create narratives that promote division, evoke fear, deny what is true, stifle what is progressive and discredit what is right. Baffled by tactics of oppression unchanged for over 400 years, I am left wondering with a myriad of emotions; where do we go from here? Although new leadership brings new hope and new perspective, there is still much work to be done.
We are only as strong as the weakest among us.
It appears that we want to be a prosperous nation, but how we get there (or stay here) matters. The people in this country have much to offer each other. Embracing a future where diverse individuals can freely express their creativity, build skills and equally engage in the market remains a direct way to build a workforce that is globally competitive and situates this country at the forefront of innovation and leadership. Collective and collaborative effort provides the way to achieve prosperity – it is time for us to come together. If the goal is to live in a nation that promotes freedom and opportunity, then we all retain the moral imperative to be inclusive and equitable in our dealings while cognizant and respectful of our shared humanity.
How do we move forward with such a renewed imperative? We must remain vigilant. Our progress forward will be the culmination of the relationships we build, the policies we support, the places we live, the schools where we send our children – our decisions always impact the entire community. Moving forward with expectation toward a more perfect union, I hope we might pause and reflect on how our decisions will either perpetuate systems of injustice, segregation and exclusion, or how they might elevate justice, bridge divides, and welcome new and enriching relationships into our lives.
We are only as strong as the weakest among us. For a nation striving to remain at the helm of innovation and leadership, it behooves us (all) to invest in every sector, every demographic, every region. We are the sum of our parts. If we continue to diminish any part or people of our nation, we not only shoot ourselves in the foot today – but our ongoing discord will explode and the shrapnel of such division will shred the communal tapestry that holds our future together.
The Gathering 