I try my best to avoid being cynical, but it's seemingly in my nature and I can't help it. Now and then it's best to be positive, and now is certainly a time to be so. But fuck it's so hard right now. Say what you will about our President elect. It's all been said before, but I just don't understand what the hell is going on, and how we got here. I get the logistics of the how, swing states, electoral college, voter turn-out, people genuinely not giving a shit. I just don't understand the following Trump has. I don't get his appeal.
Putting everything aside to not get into a deep pit of despair I really do not want to get into. This whole election has seemingly opened up the biggest damn can of worms I've ever seen. Fear. Justifiable fear.
I posted this as my status following the decision: "Personally, I'm not afraid of a Trump presidency, yet. But I am concerned for those who are now. this isn't the end of the world. It's four years, or less if we impeach him. We've had bad Presidents before, we'll have them again. Take each day as it comes and breathe. Or, if you truly don't feel safe, once you're financially secure, and able, get to somewhere you will."
As a privileged (apparently) white male, I stand by my own lack of fear. But God damn, some of the shit I've seen is out of hand. Yes, I understand the majority of Trump supporters are not the "racist, misogynistic bigots" they've seemingly been labeled just for supporting him, but there certainly is no denying that at least a few of you are, and the rest of you need to acknowledge it. This isn't a time to deny anything. We need to be coming together as a country, Trump said so himself in his (better than anything he's said this entire election) acceptance speech. Some of his supporters, however, are doing the opposite.
Please, take the time to look through as many of them as you can handle if you haven't already. Chalk it up how you want. Whether they are legitimate followers of Trump or not, his election brought this out of people. I'm not saying people became racist, because of it, or that this shit wouldn't have happened otherwise. I'm also not stating that all of these are 100% legitimate, some are likely fake, but certainly not all of them. It is impossible to deny that his election didn't in some way validate so to speak some peoples thoughts and opinions of others. It's all he's been toting for months, hell, years.
It can't be said with absolute certainty that if the opposition were elected that this wouldn't be happening. Personally, I'd like rather have the possibility of that other United States, one that isn't this. Because if this is Trump's America, I want nothing to do with it.
"Diet Zenophobia" being the best case, isn't something we should settle for in a President. The Presidency isn't a play thing we should just be tossing around to any Shmoe who says they want it. No matter how much they promise you that they will "Make America Great Again" (Whatever that means).
After a few years, once his term is done, we may all look back on this and say, "that wasn't so bad." But that fact that right now, months before he's even been sworn in; the fact that I can't tell you with absolute certainty (any you can't either) that some serious shit won't go down and soon, should terrify you just as much as it terrifies me.
I'm hoping we haven't done something irreversible here. Hopefully it won't have to come to any reversable measures.
If you voted for Trump, I don't hate you. I don't understand you, but I don't hate you. I just hope that this, in some way, helps you to understand the fear surrounding Trump's impending Presidency.
Hopefully, as a Nation. We won't have to regret what we've done.
Have some cute animals to lighten the mood:
