We all see this election through different lenses. Most, if not all, of my friends are aware of my political leanings. Throughout the nastiest of campaigns, I have struggled with restraint, and sometimes lost that struggle, posting items and thoughts that were of particular importance to me. In our country, it's our right to express our opinions, and as upright, decent humans, we should also feel compelled to express those opinions humbly and kindly, with a respect for others.
Many are compelling all of us to move ahead and accept this nomination. This is easier said than done, based on the complete vitriol that was spewed and the hatred and bigotry that was stirred. This has been a campaign and an election like no other. We can't simply shrug our shoulders, accept that we have handed over this country to someone whom I see as dangerous and irresponsible, and move on with life.
Going back to lenses.....many know my story (thanks to the other lone "serious" post in this blog) of living through an abusive marriage. I saw the signs before the marriage, yet I thought after the marriage, things would be better. Marriage would make him better, more secure, less jealous and reactionary. He would surround himself with my family and friends and they would influence him too. Does this sound familiar? Many accepted Donald Trump, knowing how offensive he was and is, but making excuses for him and hoping he would end up being a figure head, surrounding himself with more palatable advisors who would steer him in the "right" direction. We have seen throughout this campaign that Donald Trump will be Donald Trump, regardless of who is advising him. When he ends up speaking with foreign leaders, he will actually have to speak for himself (and learn additional vocabulary words -- this is not being catty, this is being honest). We have crowned him with his own bullhorn that reaches beyond the Twitter-sphere to continue to spew hatred, and as President, to do so with the credibility of the office behind him. From a lens perspective, giving him the power of this most powerful office will not quiet the din; it will make it louder, just as marrying an abuser only made it worse. It did not end well for me -- other than I made it out of a marriage with bruises, a couple of fractured bones and a different outlook on life -- but I hope to God it ends well for us as a country with Donald Trump in charge.
As a woman -- and speaking for so many other women that also look through this lens -- I've also experienced sexual harassment at work. As many of you'll remember, Donald Trump recommends that in situations like that, women should just find another job. This is what I did on multiple occasions -- or I went to a different department, or I just lived with it or laughed it off -- because it was my word against this man's (who was often the one "in charge"). Donald Trump is the embodiment of the disgust I hold for this type of man. As a female, I find it nauseating that we have put him in this office considering the attitude he has towards women. That's not to say that I wanted Hillary to be elected because she was a female; I wanted her to be elected because she was the best candidate of the two....by far.
Aside from the nastiness of his campaign, there are also the policies that he wants to institute that strike fear in myself and others. He wants to dissolve Obama Care. So how are we going to handle all of those people who have no other insurance except this? The ones who rely on this insurance to fight cancer who have no other options? I totally agree that Obama Care needs work, but you don't throw out the baby with the bath water. You FIX it, and you don't impact those people who absolutely need it.
And the wall. Again, do we need extremes? Yes, immigration reform is necessary, but a WALL? Oh, but it will be paid by Mexico, so I guess we'll be okay. Won't affect our taxes or anything.
I will also be curious to see how he handles the deportation of hundreds of thousands, if not millions of undocumented immigrants. He promised this, and it's either entirely laughable or completely terrifying.
Oh, and there is so much more. What I want to understand is if all of the risks we are taking are worth it. If you've voted for him purely so that we'll retain a conservative Supreme Court, do any of those laws they put into place or repeal matter if we are at war, facing global destruction with nuclear weapons, or in a financial crisis? I seriously am not a drama queen, but I sure hope that everyone who voted for Trump educated themselves completely, knew about the intended (and unintended) consequences, and is prepared for us all to experience significant upheaval.
Wednesday following the election, I --and so many others -- were walking around in shock. I've supported Democrats in the past who have been beaten by Republicans, and I've accepted it and even somewhat embraced it, for the good of the country and to move forward. The difference between those campaigns and this one is that those people were simply DECENT. They were good human beings who had different philosophies than I had. There could have even been mud-slinging, but never in my life have I seen or heard the vulgarities and the ugliness that this campaign entailed. It's difficult to swallow this. At the moment, I can't bring myself to watch the news, to listen to the radio, to read the newspaper. It's just too painful and too soon. Many of you won't understand. I'm looking through my lens and you are looking through yours.
