Before early astronomers calculated the periodicity of the seasons, with solstices and equinoxes, Celtic culture celebrated the recurring agronomic cycles of setting the herds and flocks to pasture in late Spring (in our terms) and returning them to stables and côtes in the Fall (again in our terms). The Spring event to commemorate sending out the animals to graze became ritualized in festivals around May 1, (Beltane, or May Day.) The return of the animals to shelter for the winter is honored in the festivals of Samhain by the Celts, and variously as Halloween, All Hallows Eve and All Saints Day in more recent English language usage. November 1 became the « New Years » of the Celtic calendar. All of this (and much more) is conveniently chronicled in James George Frazer’s classic The Golden Bough.

For us, this year, this dark year of pandemic suppression and political oppression, this year of conflagrations, hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, this year of both passionate hope and ominous foreboding for the imminent election, this year that we imagined 50 years ago as « Earth 2020, » this year at a threshold of momentous possibilities — November 1 feels very much like a transition of great moment. What waits beyond the door?

This year marks the 15th time I have voted in a Presidential Election (yup, that’s 60 years of voting). The most exciting election for me was my first one (naturally!), but that one was exciting for an entire generation. JFK! He was inspirational to the nth degree. When he came to speak in San Francisco at the Cow Palace, he laid out the vision of The Peace Corps. A co-worker at the shoe store where I worked to put myself through SF State went to the rally, and I was so envious! The next visionary of that stature was Obama. No question. Win or lose, however, I felt each time that my vote mattered, that it was counted, that the process had credible integrity (but then I wasn’t black, trying to vote in Selma – white privilege existed then and now). Throughout this timeline I truly believed that as much as issues might divide our perspectives, certain common values united us as Americans.

This election is the first one where, from the very beginning, one candidate declared he would not be constrained by laws, rules, or common decency and respect. His demeanor, his behavior, his pronouncements at every turn cast the shadow of a tyrant. He in no way fits the profile of a President – he is a dictator, plain and simple. He behaves like a tyrant from a banana republic.

I agree with Joe Biden that we are fighting for the soul of the nation.

My contingent contributes modest amounts of money to Biden/Harris and several Senate campaigns. I mean it about the modest amounts. That’s what I have. For this year’s election I have contributed more than in all 14 previous presidential elections combined. That might not be enough. But it’s what I can do this time. Others are doing phone banks or distributing materials or who knows what. I hope ALL of us are voting. And voting early!

And what if it goes bad, or wrong, or crazy?

The worst possible reaction would be violent. It would give the other side a justification for suppression. And it just doesn’t work. Nonviolent uprisings are historically twice as likely to succeed as violent ones. But we may need to be creative: marches and protests, of course; but also strikes, slowdowns, and other traditional labor tactics. But we can’t let the current regime succeed (yes, l believe it is accurately a regime, not an administration).

And when we succeed – perhaps sooner, without all the drama, let’s roll up our sleeves and get to work rebuilding and reinforcing the best of who we are and who we can be!

Happy Samhain!