A star is born
Friday evening. It was a long night, mostly of darkness. Not only was it dark outside, but the darkness had imprinted itself on the house floor, as Republicans humiliated themselves and fought like monsters unleashed from a laboratory.
But out of that darkness, there came a flicker of a candle — and the flicker became a blaze as a star was born right in front of the eyes of the American people. If that sounds dramatic, then good. Because it WAS dramatic — in such a profound way. I am sure I was not the only one sorry to see Nancy Pelosi go. But she made the right choice in appointing her successor.
And after the voting was done, after the fighting had stopped, Hakeem Jeffries stepped it up in a speech that leaped from television sets straight into the hearts of the people watching. “Governing over gaslighting.” Jeffries spoke about Democratic accomplishments – and boy were there many of them. “Economic opportunity over extremism.”
His words were fierce, passionate, and fiery. His delivery style recalled former President Obama. He spoke straight from the heart, stealing the show as Twitter exploded with awe-struck calls of appreciation. “Maturity over Mar-a-Lago.”
And he did not just speak for a minute or two. Jeffries went on for a while. Nobody was going to make HIM sit down. He had a purpose. “Reason over racism.” Maga didn’t like it. But it seems everybody else did. “Triumph over tyranny.”
The Democratic party gained so much Friday night. It achieved that which it already had — dignity — but it gained MORE dignity by showing itself to be a party of fierce loyalties that cannot be broken.
“Hopefulness over hatred.” It showed that we have the power to stay together against tremendous odds. “Knowledge over kangaroo courts.” And it showed we have a new leader in the House — a wonderful man, a dignified man — Hakeem Jeffries, a worthy successor to Pelosi and a great human being. “People over politics.”
