I will vote for Joe Biden
No question
I will campaign
Open my wallet
Get out the vote.
There is a but
As I sat through it all
The convention that is
Listening to the talk,
I didn’t hear it.
I heard Economy
Pandemic
Racism Institutionalized
Climate Change, Character,
Decency and Empathy.
But, and there is a but
I didn’t hear ‘taking a stand’
Against bigotry, prejudice
Islamophobia
Anti-Semitism.
Did I miss it?
A quick note in passing?
Brushed & swept away
In fear of association?
Too risky to embrace?
I didn’t hear the word ‘Muslim’
I didn’t hear the word ‘Jew’
Wasn’t the Muslim Ban
the unleashing of hatred,
the hallmark of Trump?
Sure, a token appearance
By delegate Khizr Khan
A millisecond flash
Of a woman in hijab
That was it.
I can see clearly now
I don’t just sense it
I hear the unspoken words
See the missing images
I get the message.
Keep a safe distance
We are not ready
to recognize your pain,
to protect you,
to commit to your safety.
We are not ready
To include your face
As we proclaim diversity;
Or give you a voice
On our platform.
Keep a safe distance
The time isn’t right;
Yes, you count!
But you don’t
Not quite yet.
Should I fight back?
Demand our rights?
Demand inclusion?
Demand to be heard?
Not budge?
Recall when the Prophet Muhammad
Prevented from performing pilgrimage
Settled with the powerful Meccans
Accepted whatever was offered
Compromised, yielded and retreated.
Such wisdom in compromise
Grace in humiliation
Strength on weak footing.
Seek comfort in his legacy?
Be patient?
Then there is John Lewis
Who urged “Keep going;
It takes a long time.
But it’s worth the struggle.”
Keep going. Keep going.
So I shall: keep going
Patient and compromising
Building bridges, not walls
Reaching out, making friends
Standing up for all others.
And dream on
That one day
Our nation will step up
and make the fight against bigotry
A priority For All.
Until then, my friends
We have work to do
An election to fight
Get Joe and Kamala in
As we wait to exhale!
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