US election

 

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/nov/07/biden-beats-trump-celebrations-joy-america

Thousands of people in America have come together over the weekend to celebrate the election of Joe Biden to Presidency. Joe Biden got 74 million votes which was more votes than any other American president has ever received, and he will take the office in January.

The new Vice President will be Kamala Harris. Kamala was born in California to immigrant parents. If she had been born one hundred years ago she would not even have been able to vote and as a black woman she would have had no rights. Now she will be the most powerful and influential woman in American history. Kamala will be the first female, first black person to be Vice President.  In a speech Kamala said, "I may be the first woman in this office, I will  not be the last." 

Biden is also the oldest person to elected President, at 78 years old. 

In his victory speech Joe Biden said, "I pledge to be a president who seeks not to divide but to unify." He called on people who disagreed to listen to each other and work together; "To make progress we have to stop treating our opponents as our enemies."

Joe said he was proud of the coalition his team put together; "The broadest and most diverse in history. Democrats, Republicans and independents. Progressives, moderates and conservatives. Young and old. Urban, suburban and rural. Gay, straight, transgender. White. Latino. Asian. African American."

The picture shows people celebrating in Times Square New York on Saturday night. Celebrations were held across the USA. There is a great short video clip in the link above. 

Watch the video and then discuss the questions below.

- why are so many people celebrating?

- what do you notice about the people celebrating- are they all the same? what different people can you see celebrating?

- what does the diversity in the celebrations show us about America today?

- One person in the video is wearing a T-shirt with rainbow colours and the words, "Inside we're all the same"; what does this mean?

- in the video we see people chant, "This is what democracy looks like!" what is democracy, how does it work, why are they chanting those words?

- "I pledge to be a president who seeks not to divide but to unify." what does Joe Biden mean?

- Why does Joe Biden mention all the different people in his speech? What does that show us about how he sees difference?

- "To make progress we have to stop treating our opponents as our enemies." what does Joe Biden mean?

- why does Kamala Harris say she will not be the last female to be elected to office?

- how is the world changing?

- what can we learn from America today?

- why is this about No Outsiders?