Thanks for this, I've been struggling to express my emotions over the election results but this podcast has addressed many of them. I too am grieving and I anticipate that, as with any typical grief process, I will experience the various stages, save for perhaps acceptance. In the 48 hours surrounding the election, I experiencd some of the most blatant and public displays of sexism thus far in my young life. While I was literally standing in line at my polling location to vote for Hillary Clinton, a man I had never met put his hands on me because I "looked cold". As the only woman in the room surrounded by more than a dozen men, I chose not to pick that battle and politely assured him I was not cold, followed up by the excuae that I was late for meeting and couldn't wait in line anymore. When I returned later to cast my vote, I felt pride that I was electing someone who would pick those battles, who'd fight for my rights, and who'd move our country toward greater gender equality. Unfortunately for me and tens maybe even hundreds of millions of men, women, and children of various minority groups, we woke up the next day to a very different world. I have been heart sick about it all week, and that feeling has only grown rather than diminish...especially after Wednesday. That day, a male colleague of mine made what he considered a joke and what any woman would consider harassment toward me, my mother, and another female teacher. He very clearly suggested that we should prostitute ourselves on the weekends and laughed about it. These kinds of behaviors are now perfectly acceptable by the standard set by our President Elect. Come January 20th, I will not feel I am represented by my government anymore. I do not feel like my rights are respected, my voice is heard, or my opinions matter. I feel terrified. I fear for my safety. I am overwhelmed with sadness. There's a quote related to Nazi Germany that goes, "First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a Socialist.
Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a Trade Unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me." I realize this is far from the reality of our situation...but is it?
Thank you so much for sharing. I'm so sorry to hear what you've been through in just these past few days. It's heartbreaking. I believe we will get through this, though there will be dark days ahead. "The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice." I think that's a truth Trump and his army of trolls and criminals cannot overcome. And I believe there are more good people in this country, who want the best for all, then there are monsters like the ones coming out of their holes right now. It's hard to keep hope, but I don't believe doing so is naive, even now.
My heart goes out to you and everyone else already suffering as a result of this election. And as the quote you wrote here attests, empathy is the most important thing we can have going forward. I feel like the only true path to ruin is if we abandon empathy entirely.
Trivia: As the popular vote count stands now, Al Gore actually won the popular vote over George W Bush by a higher amount of votes than Hillary Clinton over Donald Trump. It will be interesting to see how the percentages work out since there are about 20 million more voters in this election than back in 2000.
Thanks for this, I've been struggling to express my emotions over the election results but this podcast has addressed many of them. I too am grieving and I anticipate that, as with any typical grief process, I will experience the various stages, save for perhaps acceptance. In the 48 hours surrounding the election, I experiencd some of the most blatant and public displays of sexism thus far in my young life. While I was literally standing in line at my polling location to vote for Hillary Clinton, a man I had never met put his hands on me because I "looked cold". As the only woman in the room surrounded by more than a dozen men, I chose not to pick that battle and politely assured him I was not cold, followed up by the excuae that I was late for meeting and couldn't wait in line anymore. When I returned later to cast my vote, I felt pride that I was electing someone who would pick those battles, who'd fight for my rights, and who'd move our country toward greater gender equality. Unfortunately for me and tens maybe even hundreds of millions of men, women, and children of various minority groups, we woke up the next day to a very different world. I have been heart sick about it all week, and that feeling has only grown rather than diminish...especially after Wednesday. That day, a male colleague of mine made what he considered a joke and what any woman would consider harassment toward me, my mother, and another female teacher. He very clearly suggested that we should prostitute ourselves on the weekends and laughed about it. These kinds of behaviors are now perfectly acceptable by the standard set by our President Elect. Come January 20th, I will not feel I am represented by my government anymore. I do not feel like my rights are respected, my voice is heard, or my opinions matter. I feel terrified. I fear for my safety. I am overwhelmed with sadness. There's a quote related to Nazi Germany that goes, "First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—
ReplyDeleteBecause I was not a Socialist.
Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me." I realize this is far from the reality of our situation...but is it?
Hannah -
DeleteThank you so much for sharing. I'm so sorry to hear what you've been through in just these past few days. It's heartbreaking. I believe we will get through this, though there will be dark days ahead. "The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice." I think that's a truth Trump and his army of trolls and criminals cannot overcome. And I believe there are more good people in this country, who want the best for all, then there are monsters like the ones coming out of their holes right now. It's hard to keep hope, but I don't believe doing so is naive, even now.
My heart goes out to you and everyone else already suffering as a result of this election. And as the quote you wrote here attests, empathy is the most important thing we can have going forward. I feel like the only true path to ruin is if we abandon empathy entirely.
Trivia: As the popular vote count stands now, Al Gore actually won the popular vote over George W Bush by a higher amount of votes than Hillary Clinton over Donald Trump. It will be interesting to see how the percentages work out since there are about 20 million more voters in this election than back in 2000.
ReplyDelete