I went to bed scared last night.
It was the kind of fear that settles deep within your bones and manages to somehow seep into your dreams turning them into nightmares. In fact, I went to sleep and woke up at 4am with a vague feeling of guilt. I dreamt I was responsible for hand counting the votes for the presidential candidates but had somehow forgotten the order of the numbers. I dreamt that the future of the United States was on my shoulders and I’m not even eligible to vote!
US politics have always inspired a sense of alienation within me. A friend of mine recently showed me the song “Us and Them” by Pink Floyd, and I think it captures my feelings perfectly.
As someone who cannot vote for a presidential candidate, but still receives the backlash of whichever choice is made, I have always considered my situation within terms of “us and them”.
Regardless of what they choose, we will face the consequences.
They don’t care about what we think, but we still have to sit down and bear it.
In short, US politics have always been something I have cared very little about. Because in the end, they have always been crazy and odd, but at least they don’t openly plan on taking it out on us… until they did.
The 2016 elections served as a long running joke for the entire year. Everyone had something to say, some reference to make, and some nice pun we’d all toss our heads back in laughter and wave off in a matter of minutes. They triggered a sort of worldwide “Us and Them” feeling where no one really took it seriously. It’s not like some racist maniac could ever rise to power… until he did.
All of the signs were there. All of the calls to action were made. Yet somehow, we find ourselves here today with the very same butt-of-our-yearlong-jokes elected as president of the United States of America.
Suddenly, the jokes are not funny. I find my social media flooded with angry remarks and finger pointing. This only further extends the “Us and Them” effect.
“It was their fault.”
“Don’t look at us. We voted for her!”
My Facebook feed seems to be a never-ending roulette of whom to blame, and I don’t know where it’s going to point to next.
I went to bed terrified last night. Because out of nowhere, my entire safety net was pulled out from under me.
Because I was forced to face the reality that this “Us and Them” coping mechanism would no longer work.
The truth of the matter is this: Hate was what fueled this outcome.
In effect, it was a very dark day for all minorities out there. Regardless of where we live, what language we speak, whom we love, or what we believe in: no one feels safe.
However, this is not a time for pointing fingers. I realized today, that I will not feel better by blaming them. Because this is no longer their problem, it’s ours.
So take this as a call to arms. I want everyone to take a stand today and say “I care.”
Call your friends and loved ones and tell them that you are here. Use your privilege if you have any, offer any help you can.
I still fiercely believe that love trumps hate. So, if we’re planning on getting anywhere, we need to do so together.
This is no time to seek blame. We have to play the cards we were given, no matter how much we dislike the game. Now more than ever, we need to stand together.
So take this as a flare gun being shot. Have this be the stress signal activated, or Gotham turning on the Bat signal.
We, minorities and allies alike, need to stick together. Because dark days are ahead, but as a group, we can beat. It is a matter of listening, understanding, but most of all, it is a matter of caring. Now more than ever, empathy is our biggest weapon.
I went to bed terrified last night.
Today, I will fall asleep comforted by the fact that we are stronger together.
Together we can drive out hate.
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