Where do we go from here?
No, the answer is not to Canada or another nation.
I did a post about Election Anxiety and how it was building up inside. I had voted back in October before I left the great state of Florida for vacation. I had talked to my Instinct boss and we both talked about how we were having palpitations about this election. In my mind, I was talking to myself about how these would stop once November 9th came into being and we could relax.
Last night we walked around the French Quarter in New Orleans, Louisiana and I tried not to pay attention to the election. There were televisions on all over and it was hard to stay away from, but I would sip my drink, try focusing on the live band and not notice how red the screens were. We made it back to the condo about 11 and I still didn’t want to see the news. I didn’t want to see how red ‘Merica was.
Needless to say, I didn’t sleep well. Tossed and turned and had dreams that Trump won. There was one dream that Hillary won, but it didn’t last long and soon faded to crimson. Waking up this morning, my work wife whom I’m traveling with asked who won. I had been on Facebook for about 5 minutes before she asked so I informed her that Trump did. She asked if I was kidding, and I said no, I wouldn’t kid about that.
She’s a Trump supporter originally from a red state now living in a red state and vacationing in two more red states with me this weekend. I am a supporter of Hillary and the Democratic party. We never really talked about politics since she said we shouldn’t. It’s ground I have respected, a border I did not cross, but I had to say something now that the election was over.
I mentioned to her that I wasn’t worried about Trump being elected. He’s a personality. I was afraid of the mentality that was elected. I mentioned that yes, it’s Trump, but it is the hate and the backwardsness that got him elected that I was afraid of. I told her don’t be surprised if marriage equality is gone soon. She had just attended her favorite uncle’s same-sex wedding in San Diego. Don’t be surprised if Roe v Wade is no more. He has 4 years to appoint probably 3 Supreme Court justices that will control the court systems for another 25 years. Equal pay for women? Maybe in 30 years time. Her response was, “Do you think that will go away?” Not knowing if she meant marriage or Roe, I said yes.
Yes, there are many more points and rights and changes to our nation that will occur, but I didn’t continue our conversation. I didn’t feel like increasing my anxiety over how things are going to change over the next 4 years, 25 years. It wasn’t this bad when the latest Bush took office. Did we have more to loose? Do we have more to fear?
Where do we go from here? I asked that question at the beginning of my mental diarrhea that I poured into this blog. It’s a tough question to ask and a tougher one to answer.
Will we all need to become more active in our community and our fight to keep and maintain our rights?
Will we have to be more creative in our push for LGBT Equality, Women’s Equality, Minority Rights?
Was winning Marriage Equality just a practice run for what we will have to do for the next 4 to 25 years?
Is your anxiety as high as mine?
Though I was not thrilled
Though I was not thrilled with Hillary, I am less thrilled with Trump. What I did find somewhat encouraging was what Paul Ryan had to say. While he welcomed the newly elected president with open arms, and promised to work with him, he did not give him a.blank check. I'm also not convinced everyone who voted for him buys all that he said. While I am concerned with Trump, this may also be a good opportunity for Democrats to get their house in order. We should have had a Sanders/Warren ticket, or a Joe Biden as a candidate in the first place.
I have to take back most of
I have to take back most of what I said about Ryan. Did not realize the speech I heard was edited.
words can’t describe how i
words can't describe how i feel today – i feel numbed and worried about America.
As a gay man it’s very
As a gay man it's very difficult. We have to accept that loosing a job, being denied food, service and housing for being gay is a very real (and probable) reality to come. It's a different country now for us.
my heart is broken
my heart is broken