When CNN called the election for Joe Biden today, Van Jones, CNN news commentator, was overcome with emotion. When asked for his thoughts on Biden’s win, Van Jones replied: 

Well, it’s easier to be a parent this morning. It’s easier to be a dad.  

It’s easier to tell your kids character matters. It matters!  

Telling the truth matters. 

Being a good person matters. 

And it’s easier for a whole lot of people.

If you’re a Muslim in this country, you don’t have to worry if the president doesn’t want you here. If you’re an immigrant, you don’t have to worry if the president’s gonna be happier to have babies snatched away, or send dreamers back for no reason.

It’s a vindication for a lot of people who have really suffered.  

You know the I Can’t Breathe? You know that wasn’t just George Floyd.  That was a lot of people who felt they couldn’t breathe.

Every day you’re waking up, you’re getting these tweets, and you just don’t know. And you’re going to the store. And people, who have been afraid to show their racism, are getting nastier and nastier to you. And you’re worried about your kids and you’re worrying about your sister. And can she just go to Walmart and get back into her car without somebody saying something to her?  

And you spent so much of your life energy just trying to hold it together! 

And this is a big deal for us just to be able to get some peace and have a chance for a reset.

And the character of the country matters. And being a good man matters.  You know, I just want my sons to look at this. Look at this.  It’s easy to do it the cheap way and get away with stuff, but it comes back around. It comes back around. 

And it’s a good day for this country. I’m sorry for the people who lost. For them, it’s not a good day. But for a whole lot of people, it’s a good day.  

View Van Jone’s emotional speech

So today I hold a prayer in my heart for mending this house divided, for this United States of America.  Can we pull it together?  I believe we can, but some important questions need to be explored and some deep healing needs to take place.  What holds us together? What unites us? My yoga student, Don Woodworth,  told me about Dan Rather’s book, What Unites us? Reflections on Patriotism.

I downloaded the book right away and have been reading it. Can we Americans stand united? Can we agree on enough core principles and core values to hold ourselves together? I think it’s possible.

Dan Rather talks about our core values.  Just to name two, are the rule of law and the right to vote. But there’s also dissent, and a free press, inclusion, empathy, a belief in science and knowledge, and public education for all. All of these are values we Americans agree on. 

We need national leadership that will not exploit fear and hatred. We need leadership which will help us focus on the major core values we have in common.

We Americans take great pride in our individualism. Of course, we will differ in our opinions on many matters. We can learn to respectfully disagree with one another.

We need national leadership that seeks to unite us rather than exploit our differences. So…if you are feeling victorious today, reach out to someone who voted differently from yourself. Work on bridging the gap. Work on a reset for all.  I believe Biden will work towards unity in a country that has been divided for far too long.

Maya Angelou, a true poet philosopher, wrote the following words of wisdom. Her words emphasize our collective human experience. Maya Angelou’s words can help us navigate a world that is not perfect:

“I’ve learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow. I’ve learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights. I’ve learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you’ll miss them when they’re gone from your life. I’ve learned that making a “living” is not the same thing as making a “life.” I’ve learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance. I’ve learned that you shouldn’t go through life with a catcher’s mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw something back. I’ve learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision. I’ve learned that even when I have pains, I don’t have to be one. I’ve learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back. I’ve learned that I still have a lot to learn. I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”