As if the year 2020 was not already historically significant enough, there is more! This time, it is a positive contribution to history, though, rather than a worldwide pandemic. The first female vice president, Kamala Harris, has been elected with president elect Joe Biden! It is so amazing to finally see a woman in such a position of power in government, no matter what political side you are on. I think that this shows young girls that they can accomplish their dreams. It is important to finally see someone like them in a position of power, rather than the same older men in office all the time. There has been much division in America recently when it comes to political views, and I am really hoping that people will become more united now with this new presidency. I think moderation is what we need, and with Joe Biden being a moderate Democrat, maybe there will be some unity between the two parties. I am a firm believer that the two extremes will never reach any common ground, but with moderation on both sides, there can be some issues that they can agree on and reach compromises, creating a political climate that is more accepting with less hatred. Everyone has the right to their own opinion, and they should never feel like they cannot freely express it to others.
A dark winter ahead
The rise in coronavirus cases across the country is concerning, and with the holidays coming up, I do not expect the rate of infection to slow down. People want to gather and celebrate with their friends and family, which is understandable, after being cooped up for so long. It is worrisome though, as the virus is so contagious, and the weather is getting colder, so outside activities are becoming limited. More people are gathering in spaces that do not have the greatest ventilation. I have remained coronavirus free so far, but that is not the case for many of the people that I know and for many people not only in the United States, but around the world. Europe is seeing a second wave of the virus and is issuing lockdowns. I am afraid the U.S. will be the next to lock down since the cases are growing so fast. The plan for the spring semester is supposed to come out soon, and I am interested to see how this will play out. It is hard to predict what will happen by the spring. There is talk of a vaccine getting approved that is over 90% effective, which is great news, but I am not sure when it will be readily available for the public, as the frontline workers will be the first to receive it. I hope it is ready sooner rather than later, as this is the only way we can return to normalcy and live our lives the way we did before this pandemic.