Wednesday, November 9, 2016

Election 2016 Final Thoughts

This is going to be one of the last things I post about the election for a while.  I didn't sleep last night. I've been reading a lot of social media, got into interesting discussions with folks.

It's no secret I voted for Hillary.  It's no secret I was very against Trump.  It's also no secret that  I am scared about what this election has brought out in people.

If you are reading this, you're a friend of mine on social media.  Maybe that means we are friends in real life or maybe that means we just met somewhere along the way and decided to connect through this medium.

I have said things that have offended some people.  I have said things that made some folks think.  The same on my end.  I love discourse and learning from everyone's perspective.  I throw mine out there with expectations that people will disagree with me.  I've done that via my column in my school paper in college and through a blog I used to update regularly.  This is not abnormal from me.

So... with that said...

I want to believe in the inherent goodness of people.  I want to believe that my rights, my existence, and perspective is valued equally as the rest of America.  And that the results of last night's election doesn't change that.

It's not about Trump. I've said it before.  I disagreed with him on several things not related to what this is about.  It's not about Hillary.  I don't necessarily agree with her on everything either.

However, the results of this election and the legitimization of the ugly side of America still scared me.

Not all Trump supporters are racist, sexist, or homophobic.  I get that.

But seeing how the election has turned out... and how so much of the discourse was about race, gender, and LGBT respect, this is a tacit approval of things that we don't want to talk about openly or are willing to admit openly.

If the President-elect can say the things he has said, so can anyone else.  If he can grab someone's pussy and brag about it without condemnation... if he can marginalize THE African Americans, THE Muslims, THE gays, THE "others" in a nation that prides itself on diversity like it's no big deal...  who can stop that ugly underbelly... the deplorables, if you will from doing the same, if not more extreme things.

I voted Hillary also in part because I wanted to repudiate that kind of discourse.  That, such bigotry, whether done for effect or legitimately believed should not be our nation's message to its own people and to the world.

Last night, people... also in part... did just that. We ratified that version of America.

Yes, I know some folks voted not because of that garbage and are good people that simply voted on issues and/or because they don't like Hillary or the current political system.

But, the message is out there now.  If even just one second of my day is adversely affected by someone empowered to make my life hell... that is one second of my life I'll never get back. That is the side effect of last night's election.

For me, and for a lot of people... this hurts.  This hurts a lot.  For those that have never felt this kind of negativity, I am truly glad and somewhat jealous.  For people who have never had to watch as their equal rights were debated and protested against, props... kudos.

And it is to those people that I hope this message reaches.  There are millions of Americans that saw this election result not as Democrat or Republican... Liberal or Conservative...  but as an gold star, good job to every bully that has ever picked on us, every non-consentual touch placed on our bodies, every uphill climb for equality and justice.

If you are my friend or if you want to tell me I'm overreacting, I hope you are there to pick me and all others that sees the world like I see it up when those bullies come out.  I hope you help prove me wrong when I say that I am terrified...

And I hope that together we are more than the negativity...  Because that's not the message I heard last night from this election.