I remember watching the Arab Spring with Amber circa 2011. The people had risen up against their leaders. They’d won. There was celebration in the streets. I turned to Amber and said, “if they don’t do the work, they’ll end up with something much worse.” And they did.

Yesterday

was a day of jubilation for many. America ousted abusive arrogance (like we’ve never seen, probably... some say... more arrogance that has ever occupied the White House). People took to the streets. Danced. Partied. Honked horns. VP-elect @KamalaHarris delivered a speech for the

ages, and Pres-elect @JoeBiden was on (and full of #Catholic references for those of us holding that persuasion). The remarks were the first humble attempt at unifying a torn country (torn like we’ve never seen probably... since maybe Lincoln, some say). And

as I watched I thought back to the Arab Spring. Celebration is right and just for those of us who couldn’t abide 45. But there’s still a LOT of work to do. We have to bridge gaps and heal division while still naming what’s wrong. And we have to shut down the voices

that would tear America apart (while still allowing them their day in court because... America). The demonization of sides, the villainization of the other, the political unrest caused by us-versus-them politics can’t last much longer, I don’t think.

If we don’t do the hard work of bridging gaps, I suspect we’ll end up with a weaker country, still, regardless of who’s at the helm for the next 4 years. Why? Because allowing the divisive sickness to fester will produce something worse than what we’ve had. An actual

strongperson (whether from the left or right) who’ll undo democracy in his/her lust for a throne.

For the record, I am no card-carrying Democrat. I hold more moderate views that leave me politically homeless. But I’m committed to doing the hard work in my community because as

the next President @JoeBiden said last night, we won’t succeed by the example of our power but by the power of our example.