Editor’s note: Karen Harris Tully is a writer who lives in Raymond and has agreed to keep a journal to share with Daily World readers during the odd and uncertain time we’re all navigating.
Dear Journal:
Well, the holidays are over, the lights and decorations are down (really a record for me). Make no mistake, these days are dark, but slowly getting lighter. The Presidential inauguration is only four days away, and yes, I am counting the days. I pray this inauguration will go off without a hitch, though with a lot more security than in the past. I hope none of the threats we’ve been hearing about to a peaceful transition of power come to fruition. It’s hard to believe the threats against our democracy are coming from folks who claim to love democracy, to love America. But patriotism is not love for any one man, any one president. It is love for our country.
A record number of people voted, that’s a real win for America. Every county, in every state, whether republican-led or democrat-led, has certified their elections. There were multiple checks and recounts. We’ve never had an election where any significant number of people don’t believe the outcome, until this one. But then, we’ve never had a president before who constantly, selfishly claims, without court admissible evidence, that the election was stolen.
This country has always been unique in our peaceful transitions of power. Back when George Washington stepped down to John Adams, monarchies around the world could not believe our democracy actually worked. What leader of a country would peacefully give up their power and step down? And yet, that is exactly the system set up by our U.S. Constitution. The loser of an election is never happy, but until now, they have gracefully stepped down to their elected successor. What’s different this time is this president, and his inability to accept what every elections security agency, including Homeland Security, has said: this was the most secure election in American history. And so, We the People must do what our current president apparently cannot, and adamantly, vehemently accept, expect and demand if necessary, what has always been the case in this country, the peaceful transition of power to a new president. Why? Because this is the United States of America.
Song of the day: America the Beautiful, written by Katharine Lee Bates, 1895
Karen Harris Tully is a novelist living in Raymond with her husband and two small children. She writes sci-fi/fantasy for teens and adults and can be found at www.karenharristully.com.
