On the eve of Election Day, tensions are excessive and voters are feeling anxious — that is been a theme all through this whole election season.
“There’s loads of drama in every single place. Individuals have misplaced contact with humanity,” stated voter Connie Wilson.
The U.S. was additionally an anxious nation when George Washington took the primary oath of workplace at Federal Corridor in Decrease Manhattan. The fledgling nation was riddled with debt, the Structure was weak and the judicial system was in its infancy.
Over two centuries later, within the first presidential election since COVID-19 and the civil unrest and social upheaval of 2020, we’re much more anxious now.
A ballot by the American Psychological Affiliation discovered 69% of Individuals really feel important stress about this election, whereas 72% concern the end result will result in violence. Greater than half concern it can spell the tip of our democracy.
Whereas there will not be a treatment for our nationwide angst, there’s nonetheless one factor that works — honest play. Which means accepting defeat when defeat is obvious, even when that readability is wrapped in microscopically small margins.
Final yr, Democrat Kimberly Pope Adams ran for a seat within the Virginia Home of Delegates. The race in a district south of Richmond attracted practically $6 million in spending.
“I campaigned for 18 months for a place that was just for two years, however it was price it to me,” Adams stated.
On election night time, Adams trailed by 78 votes.
“We knew that we have been down on election night time, however we have been nonetheless hopeful as a result of we knew the method was not full and there was alternative to shrink the margin,” Adams stated.
Beneath state regulation, Adams requested for a recount, however she by no means denounced her opponent, screamed fraud or alleged the election had been stolen.
The recount added 25 extra votes to Adams’ complete, however it was nonetheless not sufficient to win.
“It was heartbreaking. I am not gonna lie. It was heartbreaking. But it surely wasn’t emotional as a result of I did not consider it. It wasn’t emotional as a result of I did not belief it. It was solely emotional as a result of it wasn’t what I hoped for, however I settle for it,” Adams stated.
When requested concerning the significance of accepting an in depth defeat, Adams stated, “Earlier than any of the rhetoric and earlier than any of the choosing of sides, bear in mind who you might be. Bear in mind who your neighbors are. And on the finish of the day know that we performed by the foundations and win or lose, that’s the consequence.”
That provides a lesson within the burden of loving democracy and our constitutional republic, commanding us to like this experiment greater than our personal ambition, and accepting defeat when we’ve got misplaced to hold on for America — not ourselves.
