November 9, 2016

We Must Hope for Humanity

I had another post for today, but to be honest, after our elections in the US overnight, I couldn’t just post something arbitrary about beautiful Fall leaves in New England. I promise I’ll get back to regular posts tomorrow but I couldn’t go without saying anything here in my space on the internet after what happened last night in the US. If you’re not aware, Donald Trump was elected our president of the United States. And if you’re not aware, as I don’t speak politics on the blog too often, I was and am a proud Democrat and Hillary supporter.

I went to bed last night heartbroken and when I woke up this morning at 4am scared of the reality I would face, I felt and still feel an incredible pang of dread, of something coming and a very very hard road ahead. I won’t go on with everything on my mind today as so so many of you are feeling the same. These next four years will make a huge difference for my generation for years to come, they could catapult us back behind where we need to be in terms of women’s health and rights, gay rights, equality and climate change. This will change our nation in the scope of the world. This will change relationships I have with people close to me. This decision will change us, God knows, it’s already changed me profusely.

To see so much of my country vote for hate. For bigotry. For ignorance. For racism. For sexism. I’m actually terrified to see the repercussions of what this win means.

If you voted for Trump, you might find this dramatic. I on the other hand, find it absolutely terrifying, no drama involved. I’m not a dramatic person, I don’t throw things out there to get a rise. I am honestly and deeply troubled with the choice my country made. As a woman, as someone who grew up in the Middle East, as someone who believes everyone, no matter their race or religion or gender or sexual orientation, should be treated equally, I am terrified and heartbroken. So if you read this and don’t agree, fine. But at least acknowledge that this is how half our country is feeling, acknowledge the pain is real and the fear palpable for so many of us.

So to those of you that feel like I do, a deep sadness, a fear, a dread for the years to come, we must be smart and agile and vigilant, we must do the work that needs to be done to help those in need, because there will be great need. We must continue to believe in love and peace, to support those less fortunate than us and we must pray and hope that this doesn’t turn out as bad as I think it’s going to. So as the light begins to form in the dawn of the new day, we must hope for humanity, we must work to be better people, we must stand for freedoms for everyone and we must fight on.

Helene

I agree completely. I am seriously concerned but we have to work together to hope for the best. I am so sad.
- Casey
  
  I am really concerned and saddened with what is to come. We must find common ground and right now, that’s a little too far out of reach in my opinion.
Chelsea

This was so beautifully written, and I couldn’t agree more with each and every one of your sentiments. This election season has made me view those around me differently, as I’ve learned more about the true nature of acquaintances and co-workers.

I am thankful that none of my friends or family members are Trump supporters, but I dreaded going to work this morning and hearing what my co-workers had to say. It’s very difficult to work in an office with people who have such a narrow view of the world and can’t see how detrimental this election will be to our international relations.

I didn’t stay up to watch the election results, but woke up around 2:30am and made the mistake of checking Facebook. After learning that Trump had attained the 270 electoral votes, I had such a huge knot in my stomach and felt so upset and disappointed with our country that I had a hard time falling back asleep. It’s sad to learn that so many share his sentiments of racism, sexism, bigotry, and hatred and have given him more power than he should ever have. I feel such a strong sense of embarrassment even though I didn’t vote for him and I can only begin to imagine what the rest of the world thinks of us now. The “uneducated American” stereotype abroad was already a frustrating, but now half of our country has proved that to be correct. I can only hope that he will prove us wrong and won’t carry out his frightening campaign promises.
- Casey
  
  I agree. I’m especially worried for people like us that travel that we’ll have some severe roadblocks in the next few years as Americans abroad. I’m also having a hard time coming to terms with people that voted for him and it’s going to take me a while to figure out how to move forward.
Holly Hollyson

I just hope that this is a wake up call – that the next four years will bring about big change for the four years after that. It is so difficult to live in such a divided World right now.
- Casey
  
  I agree, I’m hopeful that whatever comes, we can still look ahead.
Grecel Lopez

You are not alone. We all feel that the next four years will put America in a bad place. As a traveler, this could mean a lot of bad things when we go out there. We should all be cautious starting now.
- Casey
  
  I agree. I especially concerned about our place in the world after this election and scared for how little so much of America seems to know or care about different people and ideas.
Chantal

I appreciate your honesty. As a conservative, I was more terrified of what a Clinton presidency might bring. Though goodness knows, Trump brings its own issues. I know as a nation we can endure anything that is thrown to us.
- Casey
  
  Thanks for your words Chantal. And particularly as a conservative. I do think that eventually we can endure, but I think one of my biggest issues at the moment is that much of the Republican party is saying to the Democrats “stop whining and complaining and unite.” But I’m having a hard time finding anything to even unite around… Trump is not that person, nor is any of the things he said during the election. I think before we can even come together, the winning side (the Republican in this case) is going to have to say, “we hear you, we understand.” And no one has been willing to do that.
Emily of Em Busy Living

I’m so sad.
- Casey
  
  Same. Such a deep sadness.
Leanna @ Being Leanna

I know how you feel. As a woman, i’m scared. I really am trying to see the positives but it’s really hard right now. Very well said.
- Casey
  
  Same. As a woman, I’m scared. And I can only imagine what other groups of people in the US are feeling. Just heartbroken.
Camila @ AdventitiousViolet

It’s hard to even find words to express the dread I feel. I grew up in a family that is very socialist (my father lived under a dictatorship that tried its best to kill and crush all socialism) and I find it hard to understand how conservative even makes sense or win so many people over. For me socialism is caring about your community and your country and the world, it’s fighting for equality for all, it’s caring that your neighbour can get treated if they fall ill, because that should be for everyone. I have a hard time understanding why people who are so angry at the elite and feel so forgotten have voted for a man who constantly screws people over for money. I can understand why some didn’t vote for Hillary, but it’s an extreme to then vote for Trump. And I find it hard to hear from conservative Trump-voters that they aren’t all racists, because that’s all he spewed for months, racism, sexism and bigotry. And even if you think you don’t agree with ‘those’ views, voting for him is an act of approval. Urg, I’m glad I’m not from the US right now, it looks as divided as ever.
- Casey
  
  I hear you. It’s been a rough time for me and it’s going to just get rougher. I agree with you, we need to get back to helping others and treating each other with respect. We’re all in this together.

We Must Hope for Humanity

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