On a bustling Tuesday night in America, we returned to the Ellipse, a verdant landscape situated just to the southern end of the White House. The site brings back haunting memories of the shocking upheaval and rebellion that took place nearly four years ago when Kamala Harris endeavoured to recover the very terrain that Donald Trump utilized as his infamous rallying point on that frosty afternoon of 6th January, 2021.
Harris couldn’t have selected a more emblematic location to deliver what was announced as her final message of this remarkable election campaign. The atmosphere that evening felt pivotal, as if democracy had undergone a full rotation, albeit on the verge of snapping.
As the Harris campaign led the nation back to this historical green patch in Washington, they also brought back memories of a day when the very foundations of the republic seemed to falter. Sweets and water were distributed, music from ABBA, Salt ‘n’ Pepa and laughter filled the Ellipse, turning it into a spot of joy and camaraderie.
Should Kamala Harris triumph in the coming Tuesday’s presidential election, this event would be engraved in her history when the chronicles of her life are written.
The campaign had the good fortune of a delightfully pleasant evening in Washington. The sky was a rosy hue by 7pm, as an enormous crowd tried to make their way through the closed avenues around the Ellipse, eager to listen to the anticipated speech.
The queue was awe-inspiring: thousands of people had to stand outside the security enclosure as approximately 75,000 individuals gathered on and around the National Mall. Despite being a World Series night in America, the throng of supporters for Harris was intense, fervent and effervescent in their greetings when Harris came onto the platform just after half seven. Harris, from the get-go, recognised the importance of the site as she rebutted Trump’s ideology, while broadcasting a plea for national unity in her speech that was aired live across all broadcast channels.
“America, we’re aware of Donald Trump’s intentions,” she cautioned.
“Disorder prevails, divisions are rife, and policies aimed at benefiting the elite while causing detriment to the rest. It is with these beliefs that I ask for your support. We remember well, the individual who was four years ago at this location, sending an armed crowd to the U.S Capitol in order to subvert the people’s sovereign choice in an election he was aware he had lost. The repercussions of this assault led to the unfortunate loss of American lives. Nearly 140 officers faced harm as a result of the onslaught. Donald Trump, ensconced in the White House, watched the havoc on television. When informed by his team about the mob’s intention to take his vice president’s life, his response encompassed a mere two words, ‘So what?’ The picture speaks volumes about the true character of Donald Trump.
This forthright and assertive criticism followed a particularly eventful forty-eight hours of campaigning. Having for long coveted a triumphant return to the Madison Square Garden, Donald Trump experienced it on Sunday, only to face backlash over an unsavoury joke made by a comedian equating Puerto Rico with a ‘floating trash island’ by Monday. The above-mentioned incident including the humourist brought disgrace to the native land of an approximately 500,000 population in the swing state of Pennsylvania and the Republicans spent the subsequent two days disassociating and justifying. The true extent of the blow to their standing however, only time will tell – at the ballots.
For her part, Harris intelligently refrained from dwelling too much on this topic, instead focusing on a critique of Trump interspersed with a plea for an amnesty amongst varied political ideologies.”
Donald Trump plans to deploy the American army against his own countrymen who merely hold opposing viewpoints. He refers to them as the domestic ‘adversaries’ in his speeches. Trump is often portrayed as a volatile man consumed by a sense of vengeance and control. His decade-long endeavours to create divisions and induce fear amongst Americans are well known. However, I stand before you tonight to remind you, America, that this is not our identity. We must not lose sight of the simple reality that things can be different. It’s high time we put an end to the ongoing distress and discord. In less than three months, either I or Donald Trump will occupy the presidential seat. If elected, Donald Trump intends to kick-start his term with a list of adversaries, whereas I plan to commence my term with a list of tasks to be achieved. I pledge to cooperate with Democrats, Republicans, and Independents to support hard-working Americans.
Contrasted against the crude, ill- tempered speeches delivered by visiting speakers including Tucker Carlson and Dana White in Madison Square Garden on Sunday, my promise represents a beacon of future political harmony. These speakers along with other opportunists and parasites, did little to advance Trump’s agenda. Despite recent impressions of a dip in momentum, the atmosphere at the Ellipse on Tuesday evening was quite upbeat, filled with optimism for the Harris campaign.
Gradually, Harris commenced her usual campaign speech which included commitments to tax deductions, housing construction and healthcare. Amidst her words, the large congregation may have been left pondering the life of Kamala Harris during these pressing times. By eight in the evening, the field lay in darkness but was illuminated by luminescent wristbands provided by the organisers, paired with mini-American flags, imbuing the scene with a gentle, childlike charm as she addressed the crowds.
Harris may not have the resonant charisma or speechmaking prowess of revered figures such as Reagan, Clinton, Obama or Kennedy; yet it’s only been three months into her campaign. Without any previous attempts and with unfamiliar standards applied to her, she has faced one-of-a-kind scrutiny. No Democrat in recent history has seen such a dramatic shift in their political position, as she went from a scorned vice president of Joe Biden’s struggling campaign to a beacon of reawakening for Democrats within an astonishingly brief timespan. Now, she finds herself the first woman since Hillary Clinton to vie for the presidency. More notably, as a black woman with roots in Civil Rights activism, she seeks to make her case amid a particularly turbulent election cycle. On top of this, Harris must contend with her opponent who has all but dismissed the traditional decorum traditionally associated with presidential hopefuls.
To observe Harris and consider the tremendous strain she faces today, one may wonder what the implications will be if she falls marginally short of the required votes.
As Harris spoke, the noise of sirens permeated through the central portion of Washington. Outside the security confines, a large, vocal pro-Palestinian demonstration was in progress, a stark prompt that the on-going conflict in Gaza may have significant implications on the Democrat campaign. She kept her speech succinct, around half an hour, striking an ideal balance. As she concluded, she shifted from the ordinary difficulties of daily living such as grocery expenses and housing loans to a more inspiring outlook on the Republic on a mild night. The echo of her voice likely reached the Lincoln Memorial and the White House lawn. Hence, she aimed for the utmost.
Almost a quarter of a millennium ago, America shook off the shackles of an oppressive ruler, marking its birth as a nation. The subsequent generations furthered this freedom, evolving and fortifying it, thereby showcasing to the world the strength and endurance of democracy. The precursors to our freedom – be they heroes from Normandy or Selma, Seneca Falls or Stonewall, or those who toiled on farmland and factory floors – made sacrifices not for us to relinquish our inherent liberties, but to resist submission to another oppressive ruler. As Americans, we are not puppeteered by aspiring autocrats. The United States of America, an idea hailed as the best invention not only of America, but of mankind – a nation vast enough to accommodate our aspirations, robust enough to weather any internal dissolution, and unafraid to envision a future of unlimited scope. Our duty is to strive towards such a future, and to tirelessly fight for our cherished nation.
The so-called F-word, which has almost become synonymous with the Republican campaign since the alarming incident in Butler in July, where a disturbed twenty-year old barely missed assassinating Donald Trump, seemed less confrontational coming from Kamala Harris. Rather, it was a call to bridge the divide that has torn the country apart.
By 8.30, the news started circulating of President Joe Biden’s reaction to the comedian’s offensive comment about Puerto Rico. He is quoted as saying, ‘The Puerto Ricans I know are honourable, respectable, good people. The only detritus I see out there are his supporters. His demonization is egregious and against American values.’
A clarification ensued, asserting that Biden was referring solely to the comedian’s supporters. However, the audio recording seemed to suggest that he was branding all Trump supporters as trash, a claim which the Republican campaign team will undoubtedly exploit and amplify today. And so, the cycle continues.
The timing of this incident could not have been worse for the Democrats. Nevertheless, it was an undeniably triumphant night for Kamala Harris in Washington. Should history favour her, her speech would become more significant and be immortalised in the annals of time.
In the Bronx, the long-standing, elite competitive feud between the Yankees and the Dodgers, a cornerstone of US sports, carried on until half past eleven in the evening. A victory that allowed the Yankees to dodge a clean sweep appeared to be a welcome relief for the entire nation. The baseball championship extends for one more night at the very least. The diversion and pace of this cherished national game have never been so appreciated across the confused nation.