Reasoning
This weekend our seven year old expressed that he wanted Kamala to be our president. “Why?” I asked.
“I just do.”
I pushed his thinking: “It’s important you think about the reasons why you want someone to be your leader—not just because your family supports them.” He responded:
“I don’t want a president who is guilty of 34 crimes.”
That’s a solid reason.
There are many reasons I trust Kamala Harris. Her story reminds me of mine, in some ways. A deep desire from a young age to be an agent of justice and part of a thriving global society—a clear knowing of a purpose way bigger than herself. We’ve walked the same neighborhoods—different time, but same place. She grew up within blocks of the elementary school where I grew my teaching wings, she went to that same school for Kindergarten, before I was born. Now, she shares meals and special occasions with dear friends in my community who are part of her family through marriage. I would trust her based on her record, experience, and the way she communicates—her words, values, and vision for our country alone are enough—but knowing people who know her intimately adds a deeper layer of trust.
When Biden stepped down and Harris stepped up, I was thrilled. And deeply worried for her well-being—would she have the strength and stamina to stand up to the incessant verbal abuse that was about to come her way? Now I know—yes. Yes she does. Kamala Harris is fierce and kind. Intelligent and strategic. She has tenacity and clarity about her values, a clear understanding that her job as president is to represent and lead ALL Americans to the best of her ability. And she has plans—actual step-by-step ideas for implementing solutions to the many deep problems our country is facing right now.
As a teacher, my job is to love, care for, guide, and help grow every young child who walks into my teaching space. This is for the most part easy for me—I know how to connect with young people, I easily see the inherent good in every one of them and know that at the core of most of their behavior is the need to love and be loved, to belong. When that need is fulfilled, a whole lot just naturally falls into place…
I have never met a young child I couldn’t love. I have met some very wounded young children and some children with complex needs, but I have always been able to see beneath the wounds and love the essence of every child in my care.
I have a long-time practice of imagining people as their younger selves. I remember when I was 12, 13, 14 years old and I was just getting to know the people who have become some of my dearest lifelong friends. I had the longing to know them as 2, 3, 4-year-olds. That’s the time when, if you pay close attention, you can still see the true essence of people, before the protective shell of ego has formed.
I want to be clear—I don’t hate Donald Trump. His way of navigating the world triggers some of my deepest wounds, and I do wonder what he would be like now had he been treated with dignity from a young age. I have a hypothesis that Donald Trump was an extremely sensitive young human being. As he began to realize the harshness of the world around him, he built an impermeable protective shell around himself that he will likely never break through. Again, I don’t hate Donald Trump. I believe he is extremely unfit to be a leader. Unfortunately, he provides a mirror and sense of belonging for so many Americans. I’m frustrated, I’m angry, I’m scared at times, but I do not hate him. I don’t hate his supporters. I’m trying to find a way to connect, listen and be heard, without shaming, without attacking the sense of dignity that every human being deserves. It’s not easy and it’s important work.
I don’t agree with every move Kamala Harris has made—I know I hardly know (or would ever want to know) what it’s like to be in her position. I imagine when she went into law with the intention of protecting people from those who abuse others, she had no idea her journey would take her to this place. What I do know is she is the most articulate, courageous, capable leader I have seen step forward in this lifetime. I’m so grateful she did.
