 Welcome everybody, in the middle of probably one of the strangest weeks in one of the strangest years that any of us have experienced, and that's a lot of weeks and a lot of years in my case. So, with all the stuff that's going on, we were actually thinking, and with all the uncertainty and the back and forth and things that I think all of us have become somewhat tired of, it's just too mentally emotionally draining. What if we spend a little time this afternoon on the healing and reunification rather than the division and the inequality that this election has showed are seriously threatened and jeopardized and may need to be a core element of this country's tone, spirit and direction over the next four years and beyond. And think a little bit, talk a little bit about where might that come from, what might it look like and what might it take for that kind of healing and reunification direction among us together with us to happen. Louise as our newest addition. Want to start us off. Oh, I was hoping to wait till the end. You can do that too. Yeah, well, you know, I, I was telling a friend today that I spent four years just being really frustrated and angry about the tone of the country. I don't have to spend another four years but I think that where we need to focus on, no matter what the election is is on our community, and, and starting from here locally because we can do a lot more here. What affects us most directly is here. And there's a lot of good things going on, in terms of, you know, people coming together to try to work together to be philanthropist to improve and so I think that maybe that's where our salvation will come to start with Hawaii and being a beacon and maybe we can help spread that message. And what a great thought and place to start because you're exactly right Hawaii stands out. Nobody questions what decisions are electorate. We know who's going to be where they're going to be. We have a fairly decent idea of what to expect. And I think there's a receptivity to and a welcoming of the change that the choices that we have made new mayor and new prosecutor others. Even a new Congress person. Yeah, that they may bring. We're in a really, really different place than the rest of the country because we have clearly chosen a new direction with people that have come out of settings where they fix things. They make things work. Sandra, Freddie, Bill. Yeah, no, I totally agree with that and Louise and what's nice about Hawaii that I think sets Hawaii apart from the mainland, so to speak, is the fact that we have culturally, we have a belief in like saving face and doing things in a proper way not to bring shame on your family and that sort of thing. So we, we tend to be more congenial. We tend to be more peaceful. We tend to be more understanding than a lot of different parts in the mainland. And we've got this melting pot of folks and we can make fun of one another and still, you know, be together as one. And I think I think that's a difference that we have here. We can protest and we have protests all over the place as well, but you don't see the type of violence that goes on during the course of our protesting. There's a civility and undertone civility and how we do things in this state. And I think that, as Louise says, that is something that we could, we could actually show the rest of the nation that needs to be done here because there's a definite fracture in this country. You can see what a voting it's like polarized. And so it's going to be it's going to take an awful lot to get back I think, no matter who wins. You know how to get there. Oh boy, you're going to have people, philosophers, psychologists, everybody talking about how to get there it's it's not going to be an easy task. Yeah, that's going, that's going to be the challenge I think whatever happens with this, you know, with this election and I think we're going to be okay. It's going to come out in a way that I think will benefit the country but I, I think the challenge for us is certainly going to be after. And even now, how we bring our communities together how we bring folks together and I don't know that we're going to necessarily save the world but we've got each one of us, you know, has a role to do in whatever it is that we are involved with whether it's in the, in our professions and in our communities and, and it's and it's kind of up to us in, in each of those settings to project that kind of spirit that we're talking about bill that we, that's just a part of how we live here it's going to be up to us to project that in everything we do and I think we can. And I think that makes it's going to make a huge difference. And not to just necessarily be media or media trashing but so much of what we see of course is that that is not the positive and because that's the thing that makes the news I but I think we all have been around in enough community circles to see the kinds of things that are taking place. The positive things that are taking place within our own circles within our own communities and within the organizations and programs that we're involved and I think we're all seeing that we're living that because you can see something and find something positive that way, pretty much every day. And if you're receptive to that. And I think there are people that are ready now. I think we've been through. We've come through. This has really been a trying time and of course and ending it up with with the COVID. I think there is this undercurrent of just a real reaching out and a crying out almost for something that is going to be better that's going to be better. I think that's there. I do believe it's there. Absolutely. And there's another good insight underlying some of the things you just said. I'm a sixties guy we had struggles and protests and civil rights and peace and good causes, but you alluded to the media. This is a completely different media. Yeah. I think we grew up with. Yeah. And the other piece that I look at that is so different is the arts. Ours were integrally part by a still and Pete Seeger, Crosby stills lists and lists and list of people they were all there. Right. And I just I'm not seeing that and I've not seen it. And it's, it's seriously missing for somebody like me and Billy and probably all of us from music is a central. We're the arts generation, the people that really did. Because the artists were part of it. I mean you look back at folks like you're both on tape. They were they were as their arts were as much a part of, of the movement and I don't know that necessarily is what we have here. And sports arena is what's doing it now for the, maybe it's the, you know, maybe the NBA is doing it. Not. You know, maybe, maybe that's the next what this generation is doing is because you're seeing there was so much. I mean I did watch the NBA finals there's an awful lot of activism and sports, which I don't think we didn't we didn't in those, in those times it was it was the artists but now you've got these, you know, athletes who have who are who have a platform and correctly powerful platform and have no comments about stepping up and you know stepping up to the plate and doing what they got to do. And no apologies. And it's it's it's actually kind of kind of cool to see to be honest. I'm, I'm, I'm a LeBron James fam, sorry. I mean, really stepped up and not just him but others as well and maybe that's where that is where that, because you're the ones that can reach the younger generation and obviously a lot of young folks voted. Whole lot of young folks voted one way or the other they voted in, you know, that's that's something to think about. You know, and one of the guys that started that in the sports sector of the entertainment industry, and took them out way in front of the musical and stage part of the entertainment industry. Colin Kaepernick. Yeah. Yeah. That was the test case. Absolutely people stepped up. And I'm kind of wondering whether what's been happening with LeBron and so many others and the incredibly wonderful dialogues of former NFL star. Acho is difficult. You know, this was not happening and they've stepped into that space as not only athletes, but as entertainment industry icons with huge followings and press. You just need to see more of that. So Radine as our youth leader to look, what's it look like from where you said we feel young. You know, I think healing and reunification is going to come as we prioritize our personal and even some of the political relationships that we have. You know, I like what Sandra said, we all have our part to do. And I think fundamentally in Hawaii, we tend to prioritize relationships over mostly anything really is first we care about each other. We want to take care of each other. Even in the COVID when it hit. I mean, I didn't just see agencies stepping up. I saw individuals on Facebook saying, you know, if you're going hungry, don't be ashamed. I will, I will cook you meals and bring it over. And, you know, I would like to see that extended throughout our country. I think right now people are battling over. I understand rights are fundamental but at some point you have to put that aside and really listen to each other. And understand each other because you can argue over your rights and your your political affiliations all day long but when push comes to shove. What do you have after that. Yeah, yeah, yeah, you know, and I have some close family and friends who differ in their views, and it can be stressful the conversations can be stressful. I don't, I don't avoid saying what I believe but I also bring a level of grace into the conversation. I think it needs to be there to make sure that my relationships stay strong. And, and I don't mind being transparent and neither do they but at some point to we also know when the conversation needs to enter. Yeah, yeah, I haven't seen that in this last four years. And I think that's critically important. We are going to see in the short term future, what all of you have alluded to, which is whether the dug in people who have been part of the division and the inequality and the hostility are going to continue to follow that model from leadership, or whether from the ground up from the grassroots, people's humanity is going to start resurfacing. And, you know, even though Mitch and Lindsay are coming back, are the Republicans still going to put them in charge if it's 51 49. I'm so certain that one or two of them may not under certain circumstances, except the OLED branch that Joe Biden and that party are bringing an offering. This is the last time anyone can remember when a core element of a campaign was, I'm here to represent all the people, those who voted for me, and those who voted against me. I had that feeling of hope back in 2008. Of course it was my, our candidate who won, but there was a sense that we were entering a new era. And I feel like in many ways we did, but it also seemed to have so the seeds of division that Trump was able to play in the dark way, eight years later. But I'm hoping that we can get on that path of reunification, and I agree with you, Radine that because we are a small island in a small community and we all have family members and friends who have different views that because relationships are important, we do try to keep the dialogue civil and, you know, and maybe that happens in smaller communities we need to hear more about that, rather than all the news getting divisions we keep hearing about. Yeah. So what do you think? Hey, if it's 5149 Republican, is Mitch still going to be in the driver's seat and is he going to refuse to allow the Democrats to appoint one single federal judge for the four year period. No, my thought on that is this. Yeah, what I think is this is that the public sees this huge fracture public sees that there is a huge voice out there that's really against the kind of leadership that we've had in the past. And if McConnell and other folks are not bright enough to get that message and to step back and really take a look at themselves and go on a different track, then I think that they're not going to make it. I think that there's going to be a need of at least talking about this healing in the country. And I think that everyone is going to feel that need and the necessity to now start to coalesce. And people like, you know, people who are divisive, I think that's one thing that this whole election is brought out. I think that those people are going to have to take a backseat because otherwise, you know, we're going to be at this country is going to be a mess. Yeah. And one of the things that was beautiful about this country is we never had to worry. We could always use the rule of law. You know, people looked at it to us in election processes to that that we was fair and, you know, everybody had a voice. And so we're losing that we lost without a leadership in the world. Right. And we're losing that through this kind of a electoral process. So we got to heal. And I think if people maintain the same structure in the position they were have been in, I think we're not going to heal. So if they're bright enough, you know, they've got enough humanity, they're going to step back and say, we got to we got to work together. Well, you make a great point, Bill, because a lot of those people are going to be up on the block in two years. Exactly. Exactly. I'm hopeful too, because I see a movement like the Lincoln project who seemed to really want the same things for just for our country to be unified and strong. And I don't think they're going away either. Correct. That is true. I guess I'm not as optimistic, though, I feel like McConnell and Lindsay came on a platform, even though they chase their stripes about Trump. You know, their goal is to pack that federal court with as many conservative judges, and they don't care what's going to happen in the next election, they're going to keep doing that. Now, on the other hand, you know, we've got some good federal appointments in our district, and that came from working behind the scenes. You know, our senators working across the aisle with White House counsel back in the day, you know, to get some good appointments. So it can happen. But I think that hopefully there's a lot of good groundwork being that's going to go on behind all the rhetoric. I think that's a brilliant insight, and we'll go straight to Sandra, but one of the things that's happened during the pandemic is that because Trump and the federal government have refused to support or even acknowledge the responsibility of the state's local regional entities and organizations, they've had to do things by themselves. Hey, and we've seen more independence in action and in judgment. Sandra. Yeah, I kind of, I kind of have to agree with, with, with Bill and Virginia, I'm not as pessimistic about what's going to happen in Congress. I really think that underneath all of that, there is going to have to be a need to work together because people are just going to be in system. We've been in this gridlock for, for, for four years and this like personality driven kind of thing. And you don't have that person at the top who's just, you know, forcing people to take one, take that side and pursue that position only. I think there's going to be some room because, you know, Biden's had a history of doing that kind of work. That's what he's done. I mean, people say he's done nothing, but that's what he's done in his, in his congressional career over the years is being able to, you know, crossover and make those connect compromises. And we've just been in a place now where last few years where the notion of compromise was just not the thing to do. I mean, it was just really, really frowned upon. And I think people are tired. We want to get stuff done. I mean, you know, people want to see things happen. And, and I don't think you'd think I don't think they'll be able to maintain that resistant posture consistently for the rest of the terms. I just don't know that that can last. Again, like I said, then there's us out there that are just going to be doing what we need to do. You're going to have all these other voices coming up. And again, you've got these young folks with these really, really strong, powerful voices coming up as well. And, and they're not going to take no work. So that's my two cents. And also to Louise's point, I think a lot of those young folks are behind the scenes making things happen to. Yeah. It has to be strategic on both fronts, backstage and front stage. Yeah, and a PBS commentator last night, she raised something that I thought was a really brilliant insight. She said, you know, Republicans have done extraordinarily well way better than expected in the house seats. They've gained maybe seven to 12 seats. She said, but look, 12 of the new ones are Republican women. And I'm sorry this may come across as gender biased, but I'm a lot more comfortable with the Republican women, other than Miss Collins and a few others, joining Ernst, but generally speaking, then with the old white Republican men. So, you know, yeah. And other than Amy Coney Barrett, I think they're going to make pretty independent decisions and they may turn out to be responsible Congress people. Yeah. Yeah. And they're not going to be able to the other huge difference. They aren't going to be able to count as Mitch and Lindsay always have on Trump and his base. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. You don't have the good squad, and you don't have the mafia boss back there backing you up. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Well, that assumes that the trend is going to go the way it hears to be going. We are Biden. We're making a big assumption. Yes. That's okay. My way still Canadian. I haven't out. No fair. They won't let you into the country. You can't go. That's okay. My second home is really Vietnam. I would go there. And they were much better with COVID too, by the way. You know, Georgia, the state of Georgia is back in play. I don't know if you've been following it, but seriously back in play. Oh, the Reverend, the Reverend one and he's, he's ahead for the runoff. Yeah. So the question is, how's the other one going to go. You know, Biden may take Georgia. There's a good chance of it. As of about a couple of hours ago, there's a positive. That would be. And we need just one of those, right? We need. Yeah. It's really it's, it's that I mean, the margin was so the margin for the absentee and mail in ballots from Tuesday night to now was something like 300,000 but then you had not quite, but Fulton County, which is Atlanta and you had Augusta and Savannah, which have, you know, really large black and democratic populations. In fact, they're the most populations in all those votes came in overnight. And that's a young country. Absolutely. And so, you know that that gap has closed down to I think it's less the last time I look at less than 20,000. And they haven't finished counting. Hey, you know, and it's interesting because a number of really, really good friends in Atlanta who are dispute resolution professionals and career coaches and things like that. And they're all incredibly dynamic dynamic women. All of them African American as it turns out. I said, check, don't sell us short. Wait till all the Fulton County votes are in. That's where you call anything. That's right. And that's what it's starting to like I looked at about a couple of hours ago and that's what it was showing. I was kind of surprised myself to sell like oh my goodness. I have friends posting a rate rate Charles is Georgia on my mind. That's the song of the day. I don't know. I kind of like people get ready. There's a train of coming. But, and I think you folks have all alluded to it and I think it's really important. I think there's an opening. And a receptivity and a welcoming for diversity that we have not seen in four years. So as we go into our last two minutes, Louise Bill Sandra reading thoughts. One of the things that I think is that if, if the worst happens and Trump is able to pull this out of the hat, it's going to come down to businesses and individuals, and they don't stop having the conversations they started having about diversity and being an ally. We're not going to be able to depend on our federal government to get that done it's going to depend on us and the places we work and where we volunteer. You see all the media reports about folks in Germany and Mexico, they're watching this election. This is an important concept for them globally. This is an important concept. How do we deal with this kind of a situation because people have always looked at us in this regard. So I think that's really important no matter what happens here. Ultimately, we have to understand that we are the leaders in this world in terms of how we do things and we have to be proper leaders. So my last comments are number one, we need to pray that the right thing happens. If the wrong thing happens, we need to pray even more. Either way, I couldn't say it better. I couldn't say it better. I'll just say ditto to that. Absolutely, absolutely. But we're going to be it's going to be there's another song. It's going to be all right. It's going to be all right. I think we're going to get through this one way or the other. I think is not to allow hope to get extinguished, and that would be my last words. So hopefully, folks, we have tried our best to answer Marvin what's going on. Hey, and we finish this. Hey, if not big blue, if not red, at least purple purple together purple. There we go. There we go. Ladies, gents, thanks so much. We'll see you all in two weeks. And by then, we'll know more. We'll have a new world. Have a new world. Pray for peace.