Thanksgiving is right around the corner! Between a quarantine with an unknown end-date and a hectic election, 2020 has been anything but calm. However, there’s still plenty of room to be thankful for what the year has brought us.
I’m thankful that our future president will prioritize the well-being of our community. On November 9, Joe Biden announced a COVID-19 task force comprising 13 public health experts and scientists who will help translate his pandemic response plan into policy. I believe that his reliance on science and facts will provide safe, accessible vaccines while protecting at-risk populations. Joe Biden won’t undermine the severity of a pandemic that has taken the lives of over 200,000 people.
I’m thankful for the near end of the vicious cycle of fact-checking social media posts before corrections from journalists and members of The Cabinet are released. Eleven of Donald Trump’s Facebook and Twitter posts were flagged as misleading about an election or other civic process. It was unbearable to see the figurehead of the United States blatantly misinform his followers and encourage them to protest the counting of ballots.
I’m thankful for the collaborative efforts from all levels of the community to bring reassurance in a time of panic. Cities such as San Antonio are working to combat vacancy problems as a result of COVID-19, with strategies such as ensuring that all voices are heard and prioritizing equity. I’ve seen members of local Facebook groups offer services such as grocery shopping to aid those who are uncomfortable with leaving their house. While I know the damage that the pandemic has caused is extensive, I am confident that these collaborative efforts will be the foundation of our resolutions to improve the country as a whole.
In no way am I labeling the upsets from this year as blessings in disguise because that would be a complete disregard of those who have struggled to maintain a sense of economic and emotional security. There’s plenty to be done in the coming years, and I don’t have a clue as to when we’ll recover from 2020. Nevertheless, I’m thankful for the communities working to protect each other and Joe Biden’s promise to rapidly address issues that Donald Trump failed to.