By Ross Llewallyn
He might be dragging his feet, but the current president will soon be successfully replaced with someone who believes in science, who values thoughtfulness and experts, who doesn’t constantly lie, and who respects the diversity among all of us in the United States. Every person who worked to make this happen deserves gratitude and recognition. Thank you.
Those of us in Georgia, however, know this ain’t over. The best chance for lasting progress in federal governance lies in two Senate runoff races in my home state. Winning would pierce the partisan gridlock and make it possible to pass real legislation on healthcare, climate change, criminal justice reform, and so much more. These are high stakes. We must register Georgia voters; canvas, call, and write them; donate to Jon Ossoff, Raphael Warnock, and local organizations like Fair Fight; and, of course, vote.
In 2017 I hosted a friend from out of town who worked for the Ossoff campaign as they fought to take the north Atlanta suburbs for the House. This young, vibrant candidate captured the energy of an activated Democratic party after 2016’s loss. Now he, as well as Warnock, seek to oust corrupt Republican incumbents who do the bidding for and lavish praise on the outgoing president. Ossoff’s policy positions offer a brighter future: electjon.com/policy
The Ross from a decade ago would be curious to understand why the first candidate I’d ever canvas for would be Senate candidate Reverend Raphael Warnock, pastor for Martin Luther King, Jr.’s church in Atlanta. My atheist identity was especially prominent back then. Today I warmly embrace the support and common values I share with progressive religious communities and figures, like Warnock. A quick glance at his stances makes this clear: warnockforgeorgia.com/issues
That same younger Ross would also want to understand my political involvement at all. Critical thinking and reason, behaviors I deeply value, often seem so absent in political advertising and campaigning, which rides on personality and slogan, often tangential to fact. But my secular humanism embodies deeper values and priorities: the health of the public and the planet, compassion for marginalized communities, cultivation of quality education for all, and freedom from religiously-motivated oppression.
I want our political system to be different, but I know that doesn’t change just by wishing it would and doing the bare minimum. That’s why I’m prioritizing short- and medium-term crises over long-term navel-gazing. I’m aware enough now to recognize that my apathy and narrow concerns were tinted by my privilege.
So for two weekends before the election I was out in my city, walking door-to-door to give people who haven’t voted yet a nudge in a direction that I think reduces harm and creates a better tomorrow. I got into apartment complexes and canvassed at least 50 homes through kindness and courage. I was proud to use my persistence and local Atlanta knowledge to translate badly-mapped voter records listing “Confederate Avenue” to the recently-changed “United Avenue” to find at least 40 more voters. I talked with folks in these neighborhoods, asked about their pandemic Halloween plans, and confirmed that they had voted.
I worked the polls on election day, filling the time with purpose instead of staying home filled with anxiety. I helped people make their voice heard as well as I could.
I tested positive for COVID-19 a few days later, probably from helping hundreds of voters scan their ballots. Once I’m out of quarantine, I’ll be back at it. Will you join me?
In Georgia, we’re looking at a margin of victory for Biden small enough that this outreach feels exceptionally impactful. It’s the same for this runoff: every hour of volunteering matters. Turnout has to be high like November for us to make Georgia a true blue.
If I can go from cynical and apathetic about the political process to hunting down doors to hang a candidate’s literature on, then you can, too. I hope my reasoning is convincing. If you’re out of state: give your money, time, and talents. If you’re from ’round here: share a selfie with me (@EnduringBeta) of you out there getting votes. And of course, make sure to vote yourself.
We only have until January 5th to turn out and motivate voters. The Republican opposition would exacerbate the harm befalling our neighbors and friends. We must fight for them with hope for a more equitable society.
