Her Unyielding Voice
Her Unyielding Voice
Last week, Robert and I were guests aboard the Cunard Lines Queen Elizabeth, sailing from Vancouver to ports of call in Alaska. I had a role as a guest lecturer on the ship and was looking forward to a digital detox and opportunity to write. On the evening of Thursday, August 22, I turned on the shipboard TV at the moment that Kamala Harris took the stage to accept the Democratic Party nomination for President of the United States. I was profoundly moved by her story, that was not a reflection of my life, but somehow rhymed with some of my lived experiences. I never intended to make this newsletter political in nature, but feel compelled to reflect on things that touched my heart.
Above: Close Up of glacial ice floating by at Sitka, Alaska last week.
In a world defined in worn out traditions, where the shadows of age-old biases stretch far and wide, Kamala Harris stands as a figure of profound significance. As the potential future President of the United States, she embodies a new archetype, one that merges strength with grace, a voice both commanding and unyielding, yet free of the shrill discord that has at times marked the struggle for equality.
In the landscape she navigates, the echoes of patriarchy still reverberate, their weight heavy upon the institutions and ideals of the populace. Harris’s presence is not a disruption but a reformation, a beacon that cuts through the mists of antiquated norms. Her voice, clear and resolute, stands as a testament to the possibility of leadership that is both powerful and dignified, defying the stereotypes that have long sought to confine and define. She is for the people. All people.
To be effective in politics is to walk a path paved with courage and conviction. Harris’s vision of leadership offers a profound shift in the perception of female authority, one that asserts itself through reason and resilience. She represents a celebration of possibility rather than the clamor of dissent. Her strength is not in an overbearing force of authority but in the unwavering clarity of her purpose, a purpose that reclaims the power of leadership with enduring grace.
In the crucible of political life, where every word is scrutinized and every action weighed, Harris’s voice emerged for me as a symbol of a new era. It is a voice that disrupts the old order through the steady resolve to lead with integrity, equality and vision. Her presidency will challenge the notion that strength must be loud to be effective, presenting instead a model where authority and empathy can coexist in a harmonious balance.
In her unyielding presence, she paves the way for a future where every voice is heard and valued, and where strength is measured by the substance of one's character and the clarity of one's purpose.
As a Canadian, I have no dog in this fight. And yet, I feel compelled to share my opinion this one time. This is the time for women to rise and be heard—not at the expense of men, but hand in hand with men who also wish for a world that fully represents and lifts up their mothers, wives, sisters and daughters
Above: Jill presented in the breathtakingly beautiful Royal Court Theater onboard the Cunard Lines Queen Elizabeth.
She’s a beautiful, elegant ship.
Our apologies for this abbreviated newsletter. We only returned home late last night and wanted to share a bit about our past ten days with you. Look for next week’s issue to be chock full of interesting content. - Jill & Robert
One of my favorite dives!
Thanks Luca. It is beautiful to feel hope and joyous laughter in politics again!
Once again Jill, you made me cry with your beautiful poignant post! I cried all the way through the DNC, and I became dehydrated when Kamala gave her speech! I volunteered for her campaign back in 2004, when as a new immigrant, I was young and full of gratitude to the country that gave me a right to exist and I wanted to have a voice and since I couldn’t vote yet, I volunteered for the local races! She was running for District Attorney of San Francisco! I was drawn to her by her conviction and tenacity, her integrity and her kindness, so now to have the ability to vote for her as a president is overwhelmingly hopeful! Your words express everything I feel about her and what she represents to me but writing is not one of my talents! Thank you! I hope beyond hope that in this ugly political environment in the US we can start a new era for all of us with a leader like her!