The Amazing Journey of Joe Biden is Coming to an End
Netherlands, 30.6.2024
Arriving at the winter of my journey, I find myself sharing a temporal alignment with Joe Biden. Like the President, I am suspended between the transient and the eternal. At the ripe age of eighty, I am deeply attuned to life’s relentless cadence—its tragedies and fleeting joys. I recognize that the sun rises and sets, and eventually, it sets for the last time for each of us. Surveying life’s table, I notice many empty seats, reminding me of the physical and mental limitations and deterioration risks at this age. This is why Fortune 500 companies do not appoint eighty-year-olds as their CEOs. Looking at the scenery of American politics, it is remarkable to see members in leadership in this advanced age, unwilling to depart gracefully from their roles.
This subject evokes memories from my childhood, where visits to my father’s study often entailed either a gentle reprimand, a lesson in courtesy, or discussions about life’s promises and complexities. On one occasion, my dad wisely observed the obligations of stewardship—contributing positively to the world. He emphasized that each generation should have a positive impact on the world and its environment, leaving this place we call Earth in better shape than we found it.
Surveying the legacy of our generation, it’s fair to say that we did not fulfil all our promises. There are pressing issues, from climate change and nuclear annihilation to the growth of artificial intelligence. These problems cannot be solved by the same generation that shaped them; they require new leadership and fresh thinking.
I sympathize with Joe Biden and the pivotal choice before him amidst speculation about his possible withdrawal from a second term. It’s time to acknowledge the fading of powers and the onset of decline, recognizing its inevitability in the grand symphony of our existence. After a lifetime of selfless public service, Joe Biden returned in 2020 to the Oval Office and ushered in a period of responsible leadership, the restoration of order, and a commitment to multilateralism. His administration has addressed critical issues such as climate change, the economy, health care, the Ukraine conflict, and Israel with seriousness and rationality.
In contrast, the former president, Donald J. Trump, showed during his first term to be a threat to the stability of the United States government, national security, the constitution, the rule of law, and the very fabric of American society. Trump’s approach mirrored the 1932 German playbook, fostering a culture of reception that paved the way for nihilism, fascism, crony capitalism, lawlessness, isolation, and authoritarianism. He has assured that his return to the Oval Office would be much worse, marked by retributions against his opponents. It’s reckless to take a gamble with the nation’s future.
I appreciate and like Joe Biden and believe him to be a decent and honourable person, wishing him a long life. However, since his announcement in 2022 to seek re-election, there are concerns about the wisdom of this decision. Having achieved one of his life’s ambitions, it would have been wise for him to gracefully leave the table of politics at the end of his first term, especially in light of his 2020 campaign promise to serve as a bridge to the next generation of the party. Regrettably, these promises have not been realized.
In this defining moment, with America in a perilous shape and deeply divided, Biden must be questioned as a serious candidate given doubts about his physical and cognitive abilities and the risk of deterioration, confirmed in front of a nationwide audience during the debate between Biden and Trump. At a rally on Friday, President Biden admitted to his poor performance in the debate but defiantly vowed to win the vote. This was an emotional response, not one based on clear-headed pragmatism and an objective assessment of facts. The allure of saying “yes” is indeed tempting, but this is playing roulette with the future of the nation and the world.
With the threat of Trump, there are no easy solutions. The status quo, which Biden favours, represents a response to the existential threat posed to American democracy by Trump. This threat brings the country to the threshold of becoming an autocracy. It’s irresponsible and reckless to play Russian roulette with the future when the stakes are so high.
It’s time for Mr. Biden to recognize that maintaining the status quo is a monumental gamble, a way of playing the country’s future in a game of roulette, stemming from a mixture of denial and vanity. True leadership lies in the ability to recognize when it’s time to leave the table and embrace the next step in life. For Joe Biden, recognizing the need for new leadership and gracefully declining a second term is not a sign of weakness but of wisdom—a testament to his autonomy and commitment to what truly matters in his journey through life.
WJJH – 30.6.2024
Diatribe: reflections on leadership, legacy, and the importance of recognizing life’s limitations, highlighting the challenges faced by leaders who must balance their dedication to public service with the natural decline that comes with age. Comparing the current President’s leadership to the previous administration, expressing concerns about Joe Biden’s decision to seek a second term, stressing the importance of recognizing when it’s time to gracefully step aside and embrace new leadership.
In what kind of world do we wish to live 