A LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT ELECT

TO: President Elect Joseph R. Biden

FROM: Jonathan D. Phillips aka The Ranter

RE: How You Spend Your Next Two Months. 

Dear Mr. Biden:

I want to congratulate you on what I perceive to be your imminent victory.  I'm sure it is a moment of great relief and celebration for your campaign, as it is for many Americans like myself who forewarned of the direction this Democracy of ours appeared to be heading.  I'm certain there have been a lot of long nights of lost sleep and deep thought - I know there have been for me.  It feels a lot like we've been through a war.  In some ways, I would say we have been -- the nation is nearly as divided as it was in 1865 when the Civil War ended.

At that time, and before his assassination, Abraham Lincoln focused not on celebration, nor on pointing any fingers, but on binding up the nations wounds.  "With malice toward none, with charity for all...." he would say.

In essence, you find yourself in a similar situation.  The disparity of between the classes, the educational gaps between the suburban and urban areas could easily be compared to those times.

You have the opportunity to be our next Lincoln - to reunite this country.

If this electoral vote falls the way we now expect, I implore you to hear Lincoln's words and spend the next two months during President Trump's lame duck period going state to state to the counties that don't get to see you because they lack any expectation from your campaign of votes, and meet those people face to face: The Dakotas, Montana, Mississippi, Alabama, Idaho, Arkansas, Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming, etc.

Start a GO FUND ME page to raise the costs of the trip if need be, and go meet, listen and see the people that have so much distrust of a Democrat in their hearts and souls they would rather choose an openly sexist, bigoted, shallow con man over the kind-hearted lifelong servant I know you are.

You are right; this is a battle for the soul of our nation.  You have likely won it for now, but not in a way that provides for a basis for celebration, but in a way that leaves many Americans despondent, including Democrats like myself who see few inroads being made in these areas.

Heal the nation, sir.

Our children have witnessed the last four years of dishonesty, distrust and misinformation.  Allow those children to heal and see just a promising glimpse of the next four.

I wish you all the best Mr. President Elect.

Respectfully, 

Jonathan D. Phillips
California

THERE'S A SIMPLE STEP TO HELP FIX RACE RELATIONS IN THIS COUNTRY - AN HEARTFELT APOLOGY

Apologies work wonders, especially when they're meant.

Yet, no one either wants to say what needs to be said or do what needs to be done when it comes to race relations. Here's one simple idea that I offer.  Perhaps it's arrogant of me to do so, but this is just one idea.

The Federal Government, with the President's lead, should commission a statue or statues to commemorate the torment the Black Nation in America has suffered over the centuries.  They should be placed in prominent positions in areas where slavery occurred and in the Nation's Capital.  On the day they are presented, Americans should be given the day off of work to witness the official ceremony in Washington. Statements and orders commanding equal treatment under the law should be restated and fixed in any state where law(s) still provide loopholes or vague language.  Denouncement of all brutality by police or any other representatives of the state should be declared loud and clear by the President and all leaders in a joint statement of support.  With this should be given an official apology, not just from the American Government as a whole, but on behalf of the American people.

That day henceforth should be commemorated as a 'United States' day, a day where our country truly came together as one -- all of the children of the country, of all colors, creeds, etc. and should be celebrated annually ever after.

That's a way to make it clear we are sorry and we mean what we say.