Old-time values of empathy, kindness, compassion, and emotional intelligence still reign supreme as evidenced in the results of the 2020 US Presidential Elections, and it’s a huge relief. I couldn’t have dared to bet that Trump would lose. Scratch that. I expected Trump to win. I had been jolted by the outcome of the 2016 elections because I had been certain Hilary Clinton would take the day. As far as I was concerned, the odds were stacked against her rival. Donald Trump was supposed to be the long-shot candidate whose braggadocio and xenophobia irked Americans enough to shun him, let alone the allegations of sexual abuse and gross disregard for decorum. I thought these were more foreboding than the exaggerated sins of leaked emails. But I was wrong.
Americans made their decision, one the majority appear to rue four years later.
I am pleasantly surprised that Joe Biden won. It inspires hope that there’s still some semblance of appreciation for decency in our world. Does it mean Biden will be best the president America ever had or even surpass the modest achievements of Donald Trump? No. But it at least translates to someone who is proven to be far more decorous and presidential in posture occupying the highest office in the land, and that’s something to cheer about.
Trump was an aberration. The outlier in the long list of former presidents who had the pedigree and temperament to hold a political office as critical as the Office of the President of the United States of America. And this is not to suggest that any of his predecessors were saints. Far from it.
One does not have to dig too deep before highlighting the flaws of these men, but at least, they were not uncouth neither did anyone of them refer to African countries as “shithole countries”.
When some of us express our relief at the ouster of personalities like Trump from sensitive posts, it’s because we understand the far-reaching impact his continued stay in office would have on society. The multiplier effect of a cantankerous Commander in Chief cannot be quantified.
As the world continues to shrink and more and more people have the opportunity to collaborate and relate outside geographical boundaries, it is safe to say what affects one, affects all. Gone are the days when unrest in Asia or America meant little to Africa and vice-versa.
These days, a wrong move by one far-flung nation could mean economic hardship for another. This explains the keen interest people the world over had in the affairs of the US as they went through the process of choosing their next leader. One who arguably becomes the next leader of the free world.
When a superpower like America puts a foot wrong, many nations fall into the ditch, and that’s why the choice of Biden has people who will probably never step foot on American soil rejoicing.
Moreover, the outcome of the elections is not just epochal but also reassuring.
Some of us were of the impression that the more quarrelsome and disagreeable a person is, the higher the number of people who would support and defend their disposition to life. It’s called self-expression. They are just expressing themselves and it has no bearing on their potential for good or evil.
The narrative these days is that people who are kind, compassionate or gentle in speech are pretenders. They had to be hiding something, while personalities like Trump are the “real” ones who are authentic in speech and deed. They are only loathed or criticised because others fail to look beyond the tantrums they throw “once in a while”.
The election results are proof that at some point, everyone just wants peace. No normal human abhors peace and the presence of one who embodies calm. Only troubled humans respond negatively to kindness and compassion. We all desire to be respected, loved even, and never want to be judged on account of skin colour, background, gender or sexual orientation.
And when one who should be the poster boy for unification represents the very opposite of that, then we have a collective problem on our hands.
The outcome of the US elections fuels hopes that things may not be as bad as we think they are. It is an indication that in the long run, the values that seem to have been badly eroded are still worth holding onto.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts. Insightful thoughts as always.
Nothwithstanding, we need a lot of housekeeping in Africa so we the citizens can be less bordered about migration to US and other developed countries.
Clearly, you acknowledged that Trumpism is made in America. Modern day populism is sitting right there in America. Biden’s victory was not a landslide type but a precarious one given the huge followership garnered by the incumbent. It was a gruelling election campaign period for Biden.
Biden’s desire to push ground-breaking reforms has two potential hurdles viz: a potential Republican-controlled Congress and a right-wing judiciary. Trump appointed most of the federal judges. The Attorney General that was sworn in like two weeks ago is Pro-Trump. These are potential albatross to any meaningful regulatory reforms (on education, health care, migration, climate change and other international treaties) that Biden may be touting. Specifically, any attempt at reforming migration or addressing climate change may receive frigid reception at the court.
Biden’s nominations to cabinet may also face hostilities for aforementioned reasons.
Trump’s lawsuits claiming electoral fraud are unlikely to succeed but his attempts to persuade Republican voters that Democrats stole the election may have lasting debilitating consequences on Biden’s administration.
While we congratulate Biden and cheer at his victory amidst these issues, we hope he enjoys the traditional honeymoon that precedes his swearing in by January 20.
God bless America. God bless Africa.
You have raised valid points. Biden would be naive to think he’s going to have a tea party in the White House or that his push for key reforms will not be met some level of resistance. The jury is out on how things will play out, but for now, some of us just want to bask in the knowledge that we do not have to endure another four years of a condescending and emotionally unintelligent president. Thanks, Seun.
Dear Lolo… u nailed this right in the head. You hit bull’s eye on this one.
These are my exact thoughts… a reverse outcome of the U.S elections would have indicated that evil trumps good. NEVER!!! Thanks for always putting pen to paper!
I love the pun (un)intended with “evil trumps good”. Thank you, Kevin.
As much Americans wanted to see a change by voting out Donald Trump, he does have an unshakable base of supporters who came out strong and not only voted for him on Election Day but also ensured the Republicans performed well in the legislative elections at both state and local level.
Trump might be gone come January 20th 2021, but he’s left a huge imprint on the political map of America which Biden might not be able to remove should be president for eight years.
In essence, there might still be clash of values for years to come.
I somewhat agree with, but I also believe that with time, the memories of Trump and the divisive personality he represented will be a distant one. Thanks, Kunle.
Still, some 74million people voted for him and that worries me a lot! While I am in a predominantly blue state, that number makes it tough to not imagine that I may have a neighbour with such “evil” mindset!
I know, right? I already braced up for what happened in 2016 to repeat itself, so I am not surprised. There are weird people in the world, we just need to face that reality. Thanks, Yomi.