DNC Joy Factory

Dearest Reader,

On the heals of a blissful end to the summer, here I am. I fasted, I celebrated and I dreamed of beautiful things to come. This is a short one. I will post a new newsletter in coming days on M. Night Shyamalan latest film Trap (2024) with commentary on the film and filmmaker. However, I suppose I wanted to take a moment to express both my hope and concern in the current political zeitgeist. The Democratic National Convention (DNC) was held in Chicago, Illinois in mid-August and was the most jubilant brand experience of the Democratic Party I had ever seen. Former presidents, former First Ladies, elected democrats, elected republicans, advocates, celebrities and many more took the stage with speeches on American exceptionalism and hope for a brighter future for the country. It was hard not to feel energized and inspired by the numerous voices uplifting the party, presidential candidate Kamala Harris and vice presidential candidate Tim Walz. Indeed Harris’ and Walz’s speeches were electrifying! As much as I recognize the power of a Democratic Party victory this November, up and down the ballot, I also must acknowledge that the DNC is essentially a theatrical production.

The problems that existed during the Biden/Trump debate are the same problems that plague us today. Although Harris raised a whopping $500 million in donations leading up to the DNC with millions more since, and endorsements from all manner of people and organizations including unions, diverse affinity groups and even former Vice President Dick Cheney, of all people, I have bitter-sweet feelings about all of this unbridled joy.

Currently, the State Department is trying to suppress a possible regional war in the Middle East (alongside the ongoing ‘plausible genocide’ in Gaza that has only deteriorated further), Ukraine has invaded Russia with the first such violation of its sovereignty since WWII (the strategic benefit for Ukraine, to be determined), and hardened positions regarding the electoral college (which decides the US presidential election this fall) have seen little change, looking like a toss-up, versus clear Harris/Walz favor with the popular vote.

Harris has improved the position of the Democrats by leaps and bounds, no doubt, and shifted the national mood in a positive, welcome direction. I suppose I just wanted to say that as much as things change, they may well stay the same. And even if Harris/Walz win, the US may have a different spokesperson for an eerily similar national and foreign policy agenda. But then again, America has never had a woman president and the working class spirt of a potential Harris/Walz administration could benefit many lives, especially with a tight but plausible Democratic congressional sweep to reinstate voting and reproductive rights, for example…so perhaps there are powerful, beneficial changes to come that none of us can foresee. As college students return to campus this fall, upcoming electoral debates air on television and a palpable sense of hope returns to the public, I’ll be keeping my finger in the air to see which way the wind is blowing.

With Love During End Times,

Agunda