在这当中，往往会有关键的日子和时刻选举竞选活动和周四绝对是那种日子。在同一瞬间总统唐纳德·特朗普建议推迟选举日基于关于缺席投票的错误观点，前总统巴拉克·奥巴马给予感人而有力的悼词代表约翰·刘易斯。
民权偶像奋斗了一生为了投票权、正义和平等，奥巴马称赞我们继续这场斗争，而特朗普想做的事情不仅违反宪法，也是我们历史上没有一位总统提出过的。亚伯拉罕·林肯在1864年的内战中没有做到，富兰克林·德拉诺·罗斯福在1944年的二战中也没有做到。
奥巴马的演讲中有一句话让我印象深刻:“所以他知道，这取决于我们是否能拿出约翰的道德勇气来质疑什么是对的，什么是错的。”
他是对的;我们不能视而不见或忽视当前的不公正和我们民主的破碎。无论是对有色人种的攻击，有意设置的限制投票的障碍，当权者的独裁行为，还是我们政治中的分裂，这些都不允许我们解决我们尚不“完美的联盟”所面临的根本问题，我们被要求采取行动。
这不仅仅是南方或西方城市的问题，它跨越了美国所有的地理边界和社区。
2020年7月30日，在亚特兰大，帕姆·胡克斯(左)和埃迪·史密斯观看民权偶像约翰·刘易斯的葬礼队伍，他的灵柩抵达埃比尼泽浸信会教堂。
我出生在底特律，在骚乱、内乱和种族不平等中长大，我经常目睹种族主义和歧视。当我今天访问密歇根时，我仍然看到这种不公正的迹象。人们在州议会大厦举着枪威胁一名女州长时，会在车上悬挂邦联旗帜，或者在衣服上出现纳粹标志。
当美国选出第一位非洲裔美国总统时，许多人认为我们已经忘记了这一切，但不幸的是，我们看到了种族主义的阴暗面抬头，丑陋的头和白人至上受到了这些美国最有权势的领导人的鼓励。
是的，有些事情已经改变和改善了，比如在我的家乡，1972年民主党初选投票给了种族隔离主义者乔治·华莱士，仅仅16年后就投票给了杰西·杰克逊总统。然而，正义和“更完美的联盟”的道路仍然不完整，我们在2020年每天都看到挫折。我们必须做得更好，我们必须做得更多。
2017年，我认为美国比内战以来任何时候都更加分裂。特朗普的许多支持者严厉批评了我。可悲的是，我的评估是准确的。
2020年7月30日，美国前总统奥巴马在已故国会议员约翰·刘易斯的葬礼上发表讲话。约翰·刘易斯是民权运动的先驱，也是美国众议院的长期议员，他于7月17日在亚特兰大的埃比尼泽浸信会教堂去世。
谁来修复这个破碎的民主，弥合我们的分歧?我想说，这一切都可以通过选举团结的领袖来实现，他们召唤我们成为更好的天使。是的，这是很好的一步，但在日常生活中，我们每个人都有责任唤起刘易斯的道德勇气，捍卫正义和平等，用爱的力量击退仇恨的力量。
它体现在我们与他人的言语和行动中，体现在他们是否伤害或帮助了我们的同胞。它认真对待投票，不仅投票给自己，而且鼓励和帮助他人投票。它要求消除所有美国人投票的障碍。这是在帮助我们社区中那些我们认为有需要的人。当我们听到针对另一个人的仇恨话语时，这不是保持沉默。这是在拥抱我们的邻居，不管他们的种族、信仰、年龄、残疾、性别、性取向或收入如何，并确保他们在美国的餐桌上有平等的空间，要求体面。
是的，今天是这次选举和21世纪的关键时刻。责任完全落在我们肩上。我们必须在内心深处挖掘，鼓起刘易斯的勇气，成为我们国家和世界渴望的改变。我们能做到。
Barack Obama's eulogy for John Lewis signals pivotal day in 2020 election: OPINION
There are often pivotal days and moments in the midst ofelectioncampaigns and Thursday definitely felt like one of those days. In the same instant PresidentDonald Trumpsuggested postponing Election Daybased on erroneous talking points about absentee ballots, former PresidentBarack Obamagavea moving and powerful eulogyfor Rep.John Lewis.
The civil rights iconfought his entire lifefor voting rights, justice and equality, and Obama extolled us to continue that fight, while Trump wants to do something that is not only unconstitutional, it is something no president in our history has floated. Abraham Lincoln didn't do during the Civil War in 1864, and Franklin Delano Roosevelt didn't do in the midst of World War II in 1944.
One line really struck me from Obama's speech: "And so he knew that it depends on whether we summon a measure, just a measure, of John's moral courage to question what's right and what's wrong."
He is right; we must not turn a blind eye or neglect the injustice of the present and the brokenness of our democracy. Whether it be attacks on people of color, impediments purposely put in place to restrict voting, authoritarian moves by those in power or divisiveness in our politics that doesn't allow us to solve fundamental problems facing our not-as-yet "perfect union," we are called to action.
This is not just a problem in the South, or in cities in the West, it crosses all geographic boundaries and communities across America.
I was born in Detroit and grew up in the area amidst riots, civil strife and racial inequality, and I witnessed racism and discrimination on a regular basis. When I visit Michigan today I still see signs of that injustice. People fly Confederate flags on their vehicles or show up with Nazi symbols on their clothes while carrying guns at the State Capitol and threatening a female governor.
Many thought we were past all this when America elected its first African American president, but we have unfortunately seen an underbelly of racism rise its ugly head and white supremacy been encouraged by leaders in the most powerful positions of these United States.
Yes, some things have changed and improved, as in my native state, which voted for segregationist George Wallace in the Democratic primary in 1972, and just 16 years later voted for Jesse Jackson for president. However, the path of justice and a "more perfect union" is still incomplete and we have seen setbacks on a daily basis in the year 2020. We must be better and we must do more.
In 2017, I suggested that America was more divided than it had ever been since the Civil War. I was criticized roundly by many supporters of Trump. Tragically, I was accurate in my assessment.
Who is going to repair this broken democracy and heal our divides? I would like to say it can all be done by electing unifying leaders who call us to our better angels. Yes, that is a good step, but the responsibility fundamentally falls on each of us in our daily lives to summon some of Lewis's moral courage and stand up for justice and equality and push back against the force of hate with the power of love.
It is in the words and actions we engage in with others and whether they hurt or help our fellow citizens. It is taking voting seriously and not only voting ourselves, but encouraging and helping others to vote. It is in demanding the removal of impediments to voting for all Americans. It is helping those we see in need in our neighborhoods. It is not remaining quiet when we hear hateful words directed at another. It is putting our arms around our neighbors no matter their race, faith, age, disability, gender, sexual orientation or income and making sure they have an equal space at the American table and demanding decency.
Yes, today was a pivotal moment in this election and the 21st century. And the responsibility falls squarely on our shoulders. We must dig deep down in our hearts and souls and summon just some of the courage of Lewis and be the change our country and the world hungers for. We can do this.
