A Reason to Despair

Twice today I heard people say they didn’t understand the angst over the election outcome and that it didn’t really change anything. 

This article summarizes the grief of those who are horrified at the outcome of this election. This election has seen a departure from the usual debate over small government/big government, regulation, separation of state and church, equal rights for equal pay, assault weapon bans, prolife/prochoice etc, immigration and foreign policy. I have some wonderful friends I have learnt to disagree with on these matters.  But this time it ended up being about xenophobia, misogyny and humanity. Humanity and Empathy lost. How does one agree on that?

I understand the root of the hatred lies in the fear of a changing demographic and lack of opportunities for certain skill sets. I understand that this fear and despair is real and I empathize with the frustration of those who feel left behind. But if we have learnt anything from history, simply demonizing specific groups will end in nothing but tragedy that haunts the generations. 

While my politics and I grieve for the potential threat to a woman’s right to choose, equal pay for equal work, keeping the church with people and out of office, for empathetic immigration policy, widening income gap, safer gun regulation, managing climate change, my horror and despair come from the perverse standards of indecency set these last few months.   

Young women heard a presidential candidate talking about rating a woman on her physical attributes and winning. Since yesterday, young elementary children were bullied in school for supporting Hillary. Young muslim children were called ISIL. -  “Donald Trump says you are ISIL”.  A young waitress at a sports bar on election night was told in jest, “If you don’t make it quick, I’ll grab your pussy.”  A devastated mother reported that her black kid in North Carolina play grounds was attacked by 4 kids and his belongings were taken and a truck slowed down next to an Indian woman running in Cary, the driver pointed two fingers at her and said bang bang and sped along. These are just some of the frightening stories shared today.

It is this that kept me awake last night when I went from grieving for my candidate, my convictions to panicking with a sense of responsibility and overwhelming urgency to do something to protect the nest we may have built on what seemed weak branches. Was moving to safer grounds an option? Surely it was our job to wake up and smell the coffee and do something. 

Won’t say my fear or mistrust have vanished, but morning , posts from kindred spirits, a dignified concession speech, warm hugs from a colleague who reminded me of the value of fight versus flight, did bring some perspective. 

So to those who find our despair unfounded, or may find the results inconsequential or positive from their perspective -  you may not empathize with it, but it is real and here was an attempt to tell you why.