After days of counting and recounting, the American electorate has chosen Democrat candidate Joe Biden and his running mate Kama Harris to become the next President and Vice President of the United States, respectively. This is a cause for enjoyment. For one, Kamala Harris will be the first Black American, first American of South Asian descent, and the first woman to become the Vice President of the United States in its long history of democracy. Second Joe Biden has, by his admission, won by a very large mandate, removing Donald Trump and his tumultuous four years out of the White House.
“Women who fought and sacrificed so much for equality and liberty and justice for all, including the Black women, who are often — too often overlooked — but so often prove that they are the backbone of our democracy,” she said during her victory speech. Kamala added how the American women had struggled to ensure their place in the American democracy, citing examples of the 19th Amendment that granted women the right to vote, then the struggle for the Voting Rights act. “And now, in 2020, with a new generation of women in our country who cast their ballots and continued the fight for their fundamental right to vote and be heard. Tonight, I reflect on their struggle, their determination and the strength of their vision — to see what can be unburdened by what has been — and I stand on their shoulders,” Kamala added.
President-elect Joe Biden reminded the people that while this has been great, the road ahead is not easy especially in the Covid season. Folks, our work begins with getting COVID under control. We cannot repair the economy, restore our vitality, or relish life’s most precious moments — hugging our grandchildren, our children, our birthdays, weddings, graduations — all the moments that matter most to us — until we get it under control,” he said.
Moreover, he added that the efforts weren’t his alone since as the President he represents Americans and not just those who voted for him. “For all those of you who voted for President Trump, I understand the disappointment tonight. I’ve lost a couple of times myself. Now, let’s give each other a chance. It’s time to put away the harsh rhetoric, lower the temperature, see each other again, listen to each other again. Moreover, to make progress, we have to stop treating our opponents as our enemies. They are not our enemies. They are Americans,” he noted.
Joe understands that if his plans to “help Americans” are to become real then he has to have the support of the Senate and the Congress, which comprises of both Democrats and Republicans. Urging a co-operation, he says, “The refusal of Democrats and Republicans to co-operate with one another is not some mysterious force beyond our control — it’s a decision, a choice we make. If we can decide not to co-operate, then we can decide to co-operate. And I believe that this is part of the mandate given to us from the American people.”
Both victors had thanked the American population to have arrived in large numbers to make their mandate heard, and especially thanked the efforts of the many who worked tirelessly through the pandemic to count and recount the vote, to make sure that all votes were counted. Joe and Kamala will be sworn-in to the Oval Office on January 20, 2021 midday.
