Madeleine May Kunin is a former Democratic governor of Vermont. She is the author of “Coming of Age, My Journey to the Eighties.”
Last year I said “Happy New Year,” to everyone with a smile. Everyone smiled back. We were all optimistic. 2020 would be a good year. Little did we know.
This year, “Happy New Year” does not stand alone. It is followed by “I hope it will be better than this year. I’m so glad to get rid of 2020.”
It has been a horrible year, we agree. The Grim Reaper, in the guise of the coronavirus has stalked the lanes, villages and cities around the globe, leaving death in its wake.
The dark days of winter could not obscure sickness and despair felt by so many. The deadly virus revealed how many people had to stand in line for food, how many were plunged into homelessness and how many had no hospital bed in their time of need.
The evil of racism was exposed as never before. Economic divides yawned wider as the increasing number of Americans who lost jobs, sky rocketed. Homes, restaurants, hotels, businesses were forced to close because of the lethal virus.
At the same time, Donald Trump has created a maelstrom in our democracy refusing to abide by the laws and customs that have enabled us to transfer power from one leader to another in a safe and orderly fashion. No wonder we are eager to ring the old year out and welcome the 2021 New Year baby with open arms.
“There is light at the end of the tunnel” is what we say when we scan the dark skies for a patch of blue. I tell myself those words several times a day. There is some good news.
Joe Biden did win the election and will be sworn in on Jan. 20, despite Trump’s ugly rants. As more Republicans accept that reality, Trump becomes more irrelevant. We will still hear from Trump but we don’t have to pay attention because he is not the president.
The initial actions of President-elect Biden have made me believe that a new day is dawning.
Each announcement of cabinet members makes me proud of our country once again. Many of the nominees are “firsts,” fine examples of the American dream. I am happy that there will be more women and more Black people in the Biden/Harris cabinet than we’ve seen before.
Competence is making a comeback to government. Three cheers.
A New Year means new leadership, new hope.
Restoring this country to its democratic ideals will help heal the Trump scars. Yes, there will be tough times ahead. No matter who wins the Georgia Senate runoff, our divided nation won’t unite with one speech or two. But President-elect Biden’s call for unity will not be silenced. We won’t achieve everything that needs to be done to reverse course. But change will happen.
I stand ready to say “Happy New Year!” because it will, in fact, be a NEW YEAR!
