filed in Daily Life
Mourning in America
It’s with such a heavy heart that I post today. It’s like right after a death. People are walking around going about their daily lives, but the landscape feels different. In Los Angeles, the temperature is in the mid-nineties, and the sun is blaring. But everything looks gray. I haven’t climbed out of despair yet, so I can’t offer platitudes. One of the most hopeful things I read was a tweet from the Washington Post journalist David Fahrentholdt, who has done such stellar reporting during this election season. Even though it didn’t seem to move the needle, today he writes: “Please keep reading as this new chapter begins. Back to work!” And so it goes…. Maybe tomorrow will bring more light.
Drawing by Nicoläs Villamizar
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I am just stunned. My neighbor and I hugged and wept, my friend overseas messaged me with utter bewilderment, and my entire department at work went through the day somberly. Yes, Wendy, it IS like a death.
But I am also angry. I’ll give myself a few days to grieve this, and then let my pissed-off self motivate me.
Here’s to your pissed off self. The country depends on it.
I’m afraid.
Me too. It’s the most scared I’ve felt. And I’ve lived through many scary Presidents.
I lived through the Watergate years. Can’t believe we’ve elected someone worse than then utterly vile Richard Nixon. But we have.
I’m calling He Who Shall Not Be Named ‘Biff’ – the loathsome character from the second ‘Back to the Future’ movie.
I noticed during Obama’s press conference today that he never used the T-word. I can’t bring myself to say his name either.
I am stunned, disgusted and ashamed right now. I felt depressed all day and am in total disbelief.
When I got home tonight and saw on the news the thousands of protesters in NYC, Chicago and DC (and elsewhere too, I’m sure), I felt a bit more hopeful because there are others who are just as disgusted as I am.
All year I have wondered “who are these people” who would vote for this man?? It still makes no sense to me. But I am comforted to know that Hillary got the popular vote which means most voters wanted her to win.
I would hope that the protests would humble him a bit. But he is a sociopath and a narcissist, so it’s doubtful he will reflect on why so many are reacting this way.
I have never known an election spark this kind of devastation and outrage. That says a hell of a lot.
It seems that nothing will humble this man.
I said it several times that it feels like a death. Shock, despair, anger, disbelief… My thoughts about him aside, I cried thinking of the people who voted for him. I took it very personally as an immigrant (ie..brown) woman. My family has been here for 30 years, my parents raised three women who went on to become independent, professional women, with master’s degrees and a deep love for this country. Of course there were times I faced prejudice, racism and xenophobia, but for the most part, I’ve felt included and valued here as a citizen. Now, I suddenly feel that a huge majority of people in this country see me as “other” and don’t want me here. Is this true? I don’t know. I told this to a male friend of mine who happens to be a white mid-westerner, and he said it was all in my head and it was the media that spins the idea that Trump supporters are racist and xenophobic. I hope that he is right, but it doesn’t feel like it right now. I understand that Hillary was a flawed candidate. I understand that people thought of her as a “criminal”. But now that the results are coming in about just who won the election for Trump, why is it that only White Americans were concerned about all the things she did wrong? Only White Americans are “left behind” in this country? Only White Americans without college degrees have felt the strain of globalization that has not provided them with the same opportunities that have been provided to the elite? Last time I checked, minorities here are also living in poverty and are struggling. But somehow only the White Americans felt the need to vote for him? I don’t understand. Or maybe I do, and I don’t want to face it.
One small ray of hope was Nevada. I have many California friends who went there to get out the vote. And I’m thrilled that we’ll have our first Latina Senator. Also, Lola, I’m in touch with many immigrant rights groups, and they are very organized for the fight ahead.
Those are very good questions, Lola. Who knows what is actually the truth right now, but I heard or read that this could be a reaction to having a Black president for eight years. It could also be a reaction to feeling like Whites are losing the country to immigration and globalization. It’s all rooted in fear, that’s for certain.
And anger.
Shocked disbelief and dismay, and a desire to stand and protect all people (including me) from the racist, misogynist, homophobic hate that our new president stands for. Already this morning, in a suburb of Minneapolis, racist pro-trump graffiti was found in a high school. We will more than ever need to rise up against hate. Yesterday I felt like the apocalypse is nigh was the correct frame of mind. Today, I am angry; the statistics reflected that 50% of educated white women voted this documented misogynist into office. Where are they being educated? Fox 9? Overnight, I have become a joiner of every possible movement to fight anything these people throw at us.
My friend’s cousin, who is highly educated and prosperous (and white) voted for Trump. I know her, and I can’t believe it. But I will say, she watched Fox all the time.
I wish I understood the thought process…
The bottom line is that not one of us in everyday life would get hired for a job with his track record. You couldn’t get a job in McDonald’s and you most certainly wouldn’t get a corporate job. Many careers have been crushed because of making racist or offensive remarks. Advertising drop celebrities like hot potatoes to distance their brand from offensive behavior. And now, the highest office in the country is going to be held by a man who is the poster boy for bad behavior??? WTF?
It’s impossible to understand. It truly is.
It definitely felt like a death. On The Daily Show Tuesday night, Roy Wood, Jr. said something to the effect of, “It feels like America died.” The weather here in northern New York Wednesday was perfect for the mood: cold and raining.
I like the Vonnegut quote. In return, I give you another, which I may have posted previously, but it’s something everyone needs to keep in mind now: “There is only one rule that I know: Damn it, you’ve got to be kind!”
Strangely enough, Tuesday night I had the idea of doing a sketch of a person in a fetal position, only scarier; a reflection of how I felt. Been too scared, depressed and/or busy to do it yet.
It has been so hard to focus on anything else. But I hope you follow through on your sketch, Len.