The Roar of Release

While waiting for lunch to arrive after my first morning of teaching in Shanghai, my host Tonny came over with his phone and showed me a speech by Kamala Harris in California. I was dearly missing the energy and excitement of the Democratic Convention. I’ve read little snippets about and finally, there it was— a veritable ocean of Kamala banners, the roar of the crowd that just would not let up, the close-ups of people’s faces—kids, adults, elders— lit up with a bright-eyed hope that I recognize from the Obama years. She kept trying to talk and they wouldn’t let her, clapping and shouting for some 10 minutes straight, wanting to ride that wave of pure euphoria as long as they could. What was going on?

 

I’ve mostly loved Joe Biden and couldn’t be more grateful for both his leadership these last four years and his magnanimous stepping down to pave the way for Kamala. His victory over that not-to-be-named lout four years ago was an enormous exhale of relief. But as important as it was and as fine a job as he did, it didn’t have the below-the-belt sense of Soul and uplift. That’s not something you can program or achieve by mere competency. Obama had it and now here it is again. Kamala is carrying that torch, with her radiant smile, her triple identities in a country where all three have been mostly refused, her youthful energy. All of that was creating the tsunami of exultation in that hall and I could feel it down to my bones.  I’m looking at all this on a small screen in Shanghai, China and the tears start to flow. 

 

I could feel how those folks in that hall and all those like me watching were roaring with relief and release. Amidst a thousand horrible things about that other guy and the havoc he’s created and the hatred he’s stirred up is that sense of being in the wrong fairy tale where the bad guys win. And then gloat about it. 

 

But not now. They know their days are done and the power of love and goodness and decency is finally free to show its face and all the pent-up frustration that the bad guys got to decide the face of the country (supported by a shameless media) is now changed to the empowerment of finally slaying that dragon. I’m so happy that it wasn’t done by a lone assassin’s bullet, but by the collective aspirations and wishes and dreams of people who felt beaten down and now are rising up. Of course, it’s not a done deal yet and we’ve all learned never to underestimate what outrages some people are capable of, but this feels unstoppable. I predict that not only will she win, but that it will be a landslide. People want— people need— joy over doom and gloom. I mean, who wouldn’t? And if not, why not? Go Kamala and Tim!  (8/26)