"A few weeks after the assassination of President John Kennedy, when I was a Hill staffer working on a graduate degree, unable to sleep, I walked to the Lincoln Memorial and strolled along the Reflecting Pool to the Capitol where I sat on the steps alone. And wept.
I recall this moment of youthful innocence because of where we are today. We live under a President who has earned our scorn but not our tears. Who has elevated grievances and hate to the top of his agenda. Who has now done what no other President āDemocrat or Republican has done ā vilified the sacred right to vote, worked aggressively to suppress that right and threatened to dishonor another valued tradition āthe peaceful transfer of power.
When I pull down my lever, I will yearn for a benevolent America, an America that launched the Marshall Plan to resurrect a war ravaged Europe, that created the Peace Corps to help undeveloped countries, that initiated a War on Poverty to lift the poor, Food for Peace to feed the hungry, insisted on the equality of all citizens and opened its arms to refugees seeking asylum and immigrants, like my parents, seeking a better life. I yearn for an America that collected dimes to wipe out polio, that led a global fight against AIDS, and will lead a similar fight against the coronavirus. I yearn for an America that defeated dictators abroad and will not tolerate them at home. I yearn for a President who will pay his taxes and wear a mask. I yearn for a President who feels inspired by greater voter turnout, not one who is frightened by it. I yearn for a President who will usher in an era of bipartisanship where Republicans will join to rebuild our infrastructure and restore our global friendships and alliances. I yearn for a President who reads, studies, listens, thinks, takes responsibility, urges tolerance and will lead with compassion, empathy, optimism, humility, humor and hope. I yearn for a President who will aspire to what the Greeks expected of their leadersāāto tame the savageness of man and make gentle the life of the world.ā I yearn for a President, to paraphrase Ted Kennedyās eulogy of his brother Bobby, āwho sees wrong and tries to right it, sees suffering and tries to heal it, sees war and tries to end it...ā
And so, with pride and optimism, I will vote for what I yearn. I will vote to honor a President I wept for. I will vote for decency. I will vote for democracy. I will vote for America. I will vote for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris." - Ted Venetoulis