There have only been four times in my seven-plus decades on this earth that I have heard Lightworker Language in a political campaign. The first was the young presidential candidate John F. Kennedy in 1960 and later his brother Bobby Kennedy, running for president in 1968. Both so inspired us and filled us with hope for the future with their positive, profound, and caring messages. When their lives were snuffed out through assassination, it was a devastating trauma for our generation. It took many years before we dared to hope again.
Along came Barack Obama in 2008. He brought in the language of hope and change while finally breaking racial barriers. His messages were always uplifting and compassionate, even in the most trying times.
And now, we have 2024. In the midst of a season of doom and gloom, we thought we were faced with a fight between two old men that the American people did not want. The stakes were high. The battle between democracy and autocracy. But, it was not an uplifting campaign. People on both sides were depressed and even bitter. Then, a miracle happened.
A president whom historians currently consider to be one of the ten best presidents in our history, but was clearly showing his eighty-one years, decided to place country before ego. It was unprecedented, literally since George Washington chose to stop at two terms. What emerged from that decision just three weeks ago was a phenomenon few expected. Kamala Harris. People close to her are not surprised, but for the rest of us, I guess we didn’t really know our Vice President.
She and VP candidate Tim Walz have engendered such excitement and positive momentum that it has literally turned the race around. When you watch them at their campaign events, they laugh a lot and seem to enjoy every moment. It is infectious, and the huge crowds respond in kind.
Now, listen to the language. When Kamala Harris first met the campaign staff the day after Biden’s endorsement, the president was listening in by phone and said, “I love you, kid.” She answered, “I love you, too.” She talks about their deep and mutual affection for each other and their spouses. On the campaign trail, she has brought joy back into politics. She and Tim call themselves the “joyful warriors.” She speaks about moving forward and says, “We’re not going back!” It is a message of hope. This does not mean she cannot be tough, the prosecutor vs the felon. But, even there, she is not mean-spirited and tempers it. She stops the “Lock Him Up” chants by saying the campaign isn’t all about Trump but is about our future. Beyond calling Trump and his VP J. D. Vance “weird” and “creepy,” there has been a minimum of name-calling on her side. All of this is Lightworker language and conduct: love, joy, joyful warrior, hope, compassion, moving forward, and laughter.
Two more points about this time in history. About Damn Time! We are finally on the verge of electing a woman, a Black Woman, and a South Asian Woman as president. Over forty other countries have had women leaders, including Britain, India, Germany, Italy, and even the so-called conservative Muslim countries of Pakistan and Bangladesh. We are way behind the times. How many of you have daughters? Now, you can finally tell them they really can be anything they want. Perhaps we will finally overcome the last vestiges of white male ego and misogyny and acknowledge women, women of color, can competently and superbly lead the most powerful country in the world.
Lastly, a few words about Tim Walz. I am a native Minnesotan. I lived there until I was 12, and much of my extended family still lives there. He is so Minnesota—the best of who we are. Small town Nebraska farm boy before moving to small town Minnesota. National Guardsman for 24 years. Social Studies teacher for 20 years. Winning high school football coach. The coach who volunteered to be the faculty sponsor for the school Gay Alliance. Devoted husband and father. All before he ran for Congress and won in a red rural district and before he became governor. And he laughs and jokes a lot. You can’t get more Minnesota than that.
Even with all this positive momentum, we cannot be complacent. We still need to donate, organize, volunteer, and vote. I stand firmly on the side of democracy and hope, and I don’t want the shocking and heartbreaking repeat of 2016 when Hillary supposedly could not lose. Be a good Lightworker and support the Light. Blessed Be!
Blessings,
Tom
Rev. Dr. Tom Norris
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