“The fact that we lost doesn’t make us wrong;
the fact that they don’t believe in us doesn’t make us disappear.”
What happened?
Caring and compassionate people have been left reeling by the very idea that Trump’s hate-filled version of America sold so well in the last election. “How did this happen?” they’ve been asking. “Who are the people who voted for his hateful platform?” Those are my questions, too.
So let’s break it down and I’m not sugar coating it. At all. Because I know my history, I’ve seen Dachau and Nuremberg and and I know more than I wish I did about Hitler, the Holocaust and the silence / fear of the German people. Silence IS Death.
Who are these Trump voters? And what happened?
The jobless with no prospects
There’s a group of 50+ white men without educations whose jobs have gone away. Maybe they’re factory workers or have other low level jobs that funded a middle-class life. But their jobs are gone either to automation or overseas, and without an education and because other jobs like that are also gone, they can’t find work. Even Trump’s campaign manager admitted that his base was uneducated white men. These men believe that Trump will bring jobs back.
Here’s how they’ll get ripped off: Those jobs –any jobs like that–will never return. Technology has made them obsolete. It’s simply not cost effective for manufacturing to be done here and Trump knows that: most of his products are made overseas. The problem is that these people are too uneducated and inexperienced to understand that his promises were empty. That’s the sad part. The scary part is their anger has nowhere to go but to blaming others.
Now, some of these men COULD get other work. It’s just not work they want to do. I see constant signs at Post Offices, Target, fast food restaurants. If they really wanted to work, they could apply. When I moved to California I had a hard time finding work in my field. I was significantly underemployed for several years, just so I could pay the bills. Even so, I struggled. I agree that it’s harder to find work now, but for many, where there is a will there is a way. If you want to work, that is, and if you aren’t afraid of hard work.
And who wants to work? Undocumented immigrants. Stand outside any big hardware store (I won’t mention their names as they are mostly hateful supporters of T-rump) and you’ll see a group of undocumented men seeking day labor to support their families. Immigrants are our housekeepers and our gardeners. This is work. But it’s work that disenfranchised, unemployed white men don’t want.
Blamers
Since those jobs are gone, they need someone to blame. Trump has led them to believe that foreigners, immigrants, minorities and undocumented workers have taken those jobs. But of course, that’s not true. Those jobs are gone forever due to technology. No one has them. But it’s so much easier to blame someone, as was proved in Germany when Hitler got the populace to blame Jews for their economic woes and then to hate them for it, and finally, to accept killing them for it.
Oh yes, the blamers have also bought a bill of goods. Because usually blamers aren’t educated and can’t think critically. They are uniformed, naive or, in some cases, just plain not smart enough to understand. This is a dangerous combination.
Just plain dumb or naive
“I”m really kind of shocked at their attitudes,” someone I know said about a young couple we know. “But now that I think about it, my expectations were too high– they just aren’t very smart.”
Some of us have been blindsided by people we thought had a brain and, it turned out, didn’t. I know this sounds snarky but we all know it’s true. Our people represent a variety of abilities and brain power, whether you believe in the bell curve or not. Many people are just not smart. And many do not read current events, politics, or history. They have no interest in it. So they are uninformed.
Lacking critical thinking skills and/or brain power, they bought the idea that loser Trump is an excellent business man and further, that government can and should be run like a business. Um. Uh huh. People in the know realize what a failure Trump has been but those who aren’t astute enough to understand bought his story hook line and sinker.
And of course, government is very different from business. As Florida under Jeb Bush discovered. But these people don’t know that because they don’t read history. Some don’t read at all. T-rump says he doesn’t read, either.
Misled, fundamentalist, evangelical “Christians”
It’s sadly ironic that Trump, who doesn’t have a religious bone in his body, had a huge base of support from this group’s leaders and then their flocks. I know a lot about this group and I find them to be the most hypocritical people I have ever met. Just like my favorite pastor often says, they do not even begin to emulate or live the teachings of Jesus Christ. They do know their Bible, though, and can quote it backwards and forward. They just can’t live it.
The fundamentalists I know have the most effed up family–and personal– lives ever. Especially those leading flocks. Completely dysfunctional. But they get dressed up every Sunday and go to church like a good little Christian family. I have no respect at all for these ministers and their flocks –who follow like sheep–are dangerous.
Their support for Trump doesn’t surprise me–it’s laughable. He can say the most horrible things and yet, these “Christians” are “proud to support him.” Yeah, I read that from one minister last week. Of course, most of those minister live high on the donations the sheeple make in good faith, thinking they’ll be blessed for donating, poor souls.
I feel sorry for their sheeple, those of them incapable of seeing right through the hypocrisy. Oh, how they want to believe. Oh, how sad this is. But I fear them, too, because they can’t think for themselves.
It’s not AIDS but just as lethal.
Bigots
They’ve been among us the whole time, and now they are empowered. The neo-Nazi movement has been gaining supporters, for example. White supremacists are coming out from under their rocks. I am really afraid for the targets of their hate and with good reason. It is up to us to make them feel as safe as possible and to speak up and speak out when we see bigotry in action. We MUST.
Do you doubt this? Let me quote a black woman, last week:
“Just experienced one of the WORST THINGS in my entire life!!! While pumping gas, I had a vehicle pull up beside me…out jumps 4 males…all of whom are Caucasian…they then proceed to talk about the election and how they’re glad they won’t have to deal with niggers much longer…now me being by myself, I just kept quiet…until one walked over to me…and said, “how scared are u, u black bitch??? I should just kill u right now…you’re a waste of air!” Still, I said nun…I kept my head down…he then proceeds to say, “what, are u deaf or something u nigger??” Then another guy steps out and shows me his firearm…he says, “you’re lucky there’s witnesses or else I’d shoot u right here”…by now there’s tears…full blown tears…they leave…I have called the police, but I am shaken…upset…and confused…is this what America is going to be like from here on out?”
Suffragettes: our sisters in the struggle
Misogynists
Well, this is the one that hits me in the solar plexus. There is an entire group of men who simply can not abide a strong, powerful woman. That kind of woman threatens their shaky masculinity. At first it was that women were getting jobs they though they should have. Now, it’s animosity toward any strong woman. They objectify women and have special terms like “slut” and “whore” for any woman who disagrees with them.
What’s more, there’s a group of white women who are similarly threatened. Maybe they aren’t smart enough to get an education and have a career. Maybe they feel conflicted about staying home to raise a family. Maybe they feel that women should not be in the work force, should not achieve. These women hate other women. And these women played a huge role in this election. They turn my stomach.
So, the rock got turned over and all these horrible people crawled out, legitimized for the first time.
White boys and men who feel entitled
So here’s something that happened to a friend last week. Or rather, her son’s girlfriend. It’s a small anecdote, but it felt ominous.
Her son’s girlfriend, a senior, was told yesterday by a freshman boy that “nobody can tell him anymore what he can or can’t do to a girl.” She reported him to the office. THIS is what’s been unleashed. Do not kid yourself.
This is part and parcel of the T-Rump manifesto. The example he has set for your children. I don’t have kids, but if I did, I’d be working overtime to counter this. I wouldn’t let them draw their own conclusions, especially boys and young men.
And there are other things I’ve seen that horrify me. Young teenage boys talking about “crooked Hillary.” What would a 13 year-old-know about “crooked” or “Hillary” except what he’s bought, lock stock and barrel from media or adults? They know NOTHING. Thirteen-year-olds aren’t knowledgeable. They have no life experience. They soak up what they are exposed to.
They’re real and they are coming out of the shadows.
If I were a parent I would see this as the insidious start of misogyny it is. As the birth of male privilege. And stop it in its tracks. These are challenging days to be a parent, to keep young girls and women from seeing themselves as less-than and to keep young boys and men from seeing themselves as more-than. Parents, you’d better start that work now because it’s the most important thing you’ll do. If you don’t believe me I have to think you are completely delusional. And dangerous to the America we called home until last Tuesday night.
Now, I’m pretty smart and I know it. I don’t usually wave that flag. But we progressives have held back a long time and it’s cost us. Bigt ime. The people who voted for Trump are ignorant, uninformed and some are just not smart.That is a fact. And now, they’ve put a man in office who has made our country a dangerous place for many. I can never respect that.
Ever.
And it behooves the rest of us, the ones with a brain, to come out and act. It’s never been so important. America is heading down the path of WWII Germany. Let’s stop it NOW.
And then, there’s this, by Lindy West in the New York Times:
“We have been weathering this hurricane wall of doubt and violence for so long, and now, more crystalline than ever, we have an enemy and a mandate. We have the smirking apotheosis of our oppression sliming, paw-first, toward our genitals. We have the popular vote. We have proof, in exit polls, that white women will pawn their humanity for the safety of white supremacy. We have the right woman to find. We have local elections in a year.
“The fact that we lost doesn’t make us wrong; the fact that they don’t believe in us doesn’t make us disappear.”
that was so thought provoking and strongly spoken Carol. There are so many Americans reeling right now – and so many also defending why they voted like they did. It’s going to be interesting (and really scary) to see how this pans out in the years ahead. I really hope he has good advisers that he listens to and that all is not lost.
I’m still perplexed – – but only about a few friends who voted for Trump. In the sense of you have captured it perfectly for most of the people I know who supported him. You’ve nailed everyone. I have a handful of otherwise lovely Jewish educated female friends and all I can think of is that they were exceedingly naïve.
It makes me extraordinarily sad but I don’t know our relationships will ever be the same.
Yes, yes…sadly, yes. You nailed it. I’ve talked about all of this with my kids, 10 and 14, neither of which understand how anyone could vote for such a vile person. It broke my heart to talk to my 10-year-old about ignorance, but she needs to understand that to be informed, one must research and read FACTS. And some people just aren’t smart enough to do so. My son sees the danger in the whole administration. He said “Pence is worse!” I’m so thankful my kids can think for themselves…and that they know people from Mexico, India, China, black kids, mixed race kids, Jewish kids, etc. They learn from those friends, embrace them, are enriched by the differences, … and will be better adults.
Honestly, I think Trump is as shocked as we are. He was preparing for defeat and business ventures post election. Now it seems he is walking back SOME of the things he said to inflame his voting base. He will run smack dab into the government machinery that he raged against. What will he do next? Who knows. Will he listen to the far right people in Congress? Will he moderate and learn that there are many things he simply cannot do? We will see, and I hope and pray that too many people aren’t hurt along the way. I have always and will continue to stand up to any kind of hatred, bigotry, bullying I encounter. Most of the Trump voters that I know will do the same.
Really, it’s time to abolish the Electoral College. We DID win. By almost 2 million votes. When we actually count one person, one vote, the results will be much more representative.
I am 10x more furious with the idiots who did not vote than I am with his sheeple who did. You laid it all out there exactly as it is. I feel fortunate that I have very few friends that voted for him but, I can’t forget or forgive the women that did. We must find a way to heal and we have to get rid of the electoral college once and for all!
b
Great post Carol, and definitely puts into words a lot of what I’ve been feeling.
In case you have not heard/seen yet, please check out #UnrigTheElection on Facebook. It’s a small group so far, just created yesterday. But, dedicated to making sure ALL the votes are counted and demanding they are, and recounts are done where needed. There are many states where the vote differences are miniscule, and too many irregularities to let slide. We need to insist the vote is audited and be positive it’s legit, before we acknowledge it.
I am so frightened by this! And it is trickling across the border into Canada already. A couple of days ago, my daughter’s friend, a Filipino woman born here in this country, was standing in a checkout line. The woman in front of her adjusted her large baby stroller and to give her room, my daughter’s friend backed up, bumping into the man behind her. She apologized, but he snarled at her, “You’d better be grateful we’re not in Trump’s America. Go back to where you came from!”
The cashier handled it well, telling him she was closing the line after my daughter’s friend and he stalked off to another line.
But suddenly the thin veneer that has been covering people’s deep-seated prejudice has been peeled back. And I’m not liking what has been exposed.
As a Canadian myself, this is why I have been outspoken like crazy on social media. We Canadians can be quite smug and think something like this cannot happen in Canada. Not true. I have been a citizen here for 14 years now and it happens every day. Trumpism is contagious. It started before him, in Europe and has now arrived across the seas – open racism and bigotry. As a grandparent of a beautiful black child, it is my duty to speak up as well as teach her to be proud of who she is – as a human being, woman and person of colour!
I grew up in a household that championed democratic values and took on bigotry. My father started the Anti-Defamation League in Tucson. Droves of people who experienced discrimination in Tucson would come to his office for real support and leadership to promote real change. One, in particular, was a black man who wanted to join a country club that was discriminating against all minorities. My father championed this fight and the man was allowed in. All of the country clubs in Tucson had to open up to people of all races and religions. Being Jewish and because of my father’s activism, I personally became a target of very serious bigotry – including death threats. Politics is ugly, but not that complicated. HRC lost the election because the Democratic Party lost its authenticity to white working class Americans. Like it or not, Trump was able to connect with them. These people were taken for granted by HRC. As an example, she virtually did not campaign in Wisconsin and hardly in Michigan -until the very end when they realized it was going the wrong way, White working class Americans were attracted to Trump for a variety of reasons. Many of those same voters – voted for Obama – 53% of white women voted for Trump. This is an economic vote and pleading for someone to address the negative economic dislocations in their lives. I hope the democratic party gets back to being the party of the working class.
I admire you so much for speaking so bluntly about this topic. I really enjoyed reading it and agree with the points you have given out. You tackled each section well. I still cannot believe the result of this election but do know that though my success will have nothing to do with he government and that I am still able to make positive changes in my surroundings by standing firm in what I believe in and speaking up and helping out those who need it. I believe if each good individual do this, we will be able to combat what these hateful people do.
It is a sociologist’s dream to figure out this election.So much bad history rearing it’s ugly head in paralelels. I think they easy way is to get rid of the electoral college!
Nail meet head. Great post!! I have been wondering myself who the heck are these people that actually voted for him?! And this list totally makes sense. Your quote from the woman pumping her gas reminded of something my BFF’s mom told me last week. She is a teacher in a high school and told me that after the results were in her kids of color and gays were literally in the corner crying. Her muslim students were praying in same corner. And her “redneck” kids were shouting how they can now “grab p**** whenever they want now”. It shook me and terrified me to my core to hear that. THIS is what Trump’s America looks like.
My Brother in Law, who is just 16. Has tried to get in arguments with me about how awful Clinton is and how she should be in jail and what not. He’s 16! What the heck does he know?! The kid spends most of his days on video games so i know he’s not actually reading current news. So i know he’s just repeating what my Father in Law has said and it’s just sad.
I’m kind of tired of this debate now four days post election, its been exhausting, but you do make some valid points. I would like to say I know a few people who voted for Trump that don’t have a racist bone in their body and did it because they believe the current political system is corrupt. I personally have tried to see how people feel on both sides and be understanding.
I agree with you wholeheartedly that most of the lost jobs are due to technology and will NEVER come back. In the case of older workers, they don’t see alternatives, even though there are plenty. What I DON’T understand, in any way shape or form is why white educated affluent women and Jews would believe his nonsense? Some are really nasty about it? What in God’s name do they see in that blowhard jerk? I’m not buying the “towing the party line” explanation because he’s hardly a Republican at all. It’s still keeping me up at night.
I have family and friends in Texas, Ohio and KY…who voted Trump. Some are what you describe, but some are not. The ones I have the most issue with are my friends who are educated and smart. They say they voted their pocketbook, but that is not good enough anymore. For those I really care about I want to hear nothing about it from them. Those who are casual friends or nasty about it…are counted as toxic in my life. I’m done.
I live in Australia and I am worried about the state of the USA. He really worries me. I just hope that he has advisors who will steer him in the right direction.
Oh, that was the most interesting read I have had in along time… Of course the president election in US is a big thing all over the world, and all over the News here in Europe too. Thanks for sharing Carol:-)
Such a great post which almost reflects all the thoughts that has been going through my mind lately. This is surely frustrating & disturbing on what has happened to this country, but I trust it is not going to be worse!
This election year has been exhausting and the outcome beyond horrifying. I’d love nothing better than to forget it and get back to normal life. But, life now isn’t normal and the reality of what we face is scarier than anything I have experienced in my 58 years. I might sound melodramatic, but every morning since the election I wake up with a pit in my stomach. I am a quiet, introverted person and I shy away from making waves. But now I feel as if I must act, must raise a loud voice, must not remain in the background. I’m on shaky ground, as the saying goes, but I feel that this is what I must to as a person of conscience.
Oh wow
I really like your perspective on this — I mean I’m in Africa but this turnout is buzzing all-over the world, and you dissected it here so well!
Woah really indepth post, clearly you know what you’re talking bout and feel strongly about your views on the matter. True the election results did shock the world & yes the first female president would have been a great way to create history. I liked the last part Silence=death very thought provoking and apt to end the post.
This is such an important message that must be known. I like the quote you made ” The fact that we lost doesn’t make us wrong; the fact that they don’t believe in us doesn’t make us disappear.”Very powerful words.
I think we all have to remember that most people that voted for trump didn’t vote for him, they voted for change. He was the only one offering a change. We need to stop judging Trump voters since most of them didn’t vote for him and his character, but the policies he promises.
Good luck with that. Just take a look at what’s happening even as I’m typing this. See any new names besides the old ones? I thought we wouldn’t see some of those bottom feeders, but if he’s “draining the swamp” (Ha!) they’re coming to the top.Lady Liberty is crying for our country.
I am shocked this has happened in America in 2016. I can see why the uneducated voted for him but what excuse does the educated citizens have? Are they racist and sexiest too? Maybe they are… Because there simply isn’t any excuse in the world why they would vote for a hateful man like Trump! They see him like an angel, it’s so weird! I just can’t understand how can anyone trust a man that has been caught in plenty of lies, cheated on his 3 wives, ripped off small businesses owners that did business with him, ripped off people with his fake “Trump University, has verbally disrespected women and minorities. He Talks about “Making America Better Again,” but used products from other countries and hired illegal immigrants to build his properties. That right there takes jobs away from Americans! He could have purchased his products in America and used American workers! It just doesn’t make sense to me! It is almost like he brainwashed them all! I thought Americans were smarter than that! I expected something like this happening in another country but not here!
What shocks me the most is that the GOP and the evangelical “Christians” sold their souls to the devil himself by continually making excuses for him and allowing this whole thing to happen.The GOP could have selected a more qualified Republican nominee but instead they selected a demon who was popular enough to win presidency. Just imagine how angry God must be with them all for choosing someone that dishes this much hate!
I am shocked this has happened in America in 2016. I can see why the uneducated voted for him but what excuse does the educated citizens have? Are they racist and sexist too? Maybe they are… Because there simply isn’t any excuse in the world why they would vote for a hateful man like Trump! They see him like an angel, it’s so weird! I just can’t understand how can anyone trust a man that has been caught in plenty of lies, cheated on his 3 wives, ripped off small businesses owners that did business with him, ripped off people with his fake “Trump University, has verbally disrespected women and minorities. He Talks about “Making America Better Again,” but used products from other countries and hired illegal immigrants to build his properties. That right there takes jobs away from Americans! He could have purchased his products in America and used American workers! It just doesn’t make sense to me! It is almost like he brainwashed them all! I thought Americans were smarter than that! I expected something like this happening in another country but not here!
What shocks me the most is that the GOP and the evangelical “Christians” sold their souls to the devil himself by continuously making excuses for him and allowing this whole thing to happen.The GOP could have selected a more qualified Republican nominee but instead they selected a demon who was popular enough to win presidency. Just imagine how angry God must be with them all for choosing someone that dishes this much hate!
I still can’t believe that this is all happening and I am really scared of the coming years. I don’t want to lose my hope. It’s important that we keep voicing our concerns. It’s important that we fight back. Once we stop fighting that’s when it all ends for us.
We must be careful not to alienate the very people we are trying to convince. Calling someone ignorant is not going to make them suddenly smart or trust anything that you are saying. By doing that, you have effectively pushed them in the other direction. I find that many Trump supporters on my FB newsfeed are quoting and sharing information from fake news sites. These sites have names like “American Patriot” which makes them sound so real and factual. Mainstream media has been tarnished with the brush of “liberal” making it not factual in some minds. No matter how much I try to research facts, and inform, these people hold firm to their convictions. We all tend to live in a bubble that reinforces our beliefs. I am trying very hard to win these people with facts and kindness – even in the face of nastiness. I will also become politically active – something I haven’t made the time to do in a long time as it seems useless where I live (firmly in the middle of the country in a very RED state).
I consider them a lost cause. It takes too much energy to deal with them. So I don’t really care that they are concerned if I call a spade a spade. Every day on my facebook page I am sharing something simple people can do–if you haven’t friended me, you can or maybe I”ll try to remember to make them public.
Agreed (with you, Carol). It’s WILLFUL ignorance for the most part, so no matter what you say, they’ll find a way to argue. My uncle recently commented on one of my posts saying that I needed to stop believing the “lies” the media was feeding me about Pence. I’d posted a meme that said something like “It’s not like the theater refused him service; he’s not a gay man trying to buy a wedding cake in Indiana.” And honestly, I could not think of a single thing to say to my uncle, it was just THAT ignorant. So I deleted the comment and let it go. Some people can’t be saved.
Carol, we watched on in amazement as the campaign unfolded. First they said he wouldn’t become the Republican representative for the presidential race. Then he did. They said he wouldn’t or couldn’t win the election. The media in Australia is now saying things like is Australia ready for a Trump-like candidate! I can feel your frustration in your thoughts.
This was beautifully written & it was very enlightening. I was in Japan when I learned about it and was like, “What is happening with the world?” I totally feel ya. The turn-out of the recent elections here in my country last May is pretty similar to what happened in the United States. Trump is a businessman by heart, which could be scary as to what decisions he’ll make.
We’ve got to start holding our media accountable for only reporting the truth and for calling out a lie when they hear it. These past 8 years, the media has just been repeating lies and letting people get away with it. Sadly, I heard it on an NPR interview this week where the reporter allowed a Republican Representative to state that the US pays the highest taxes in the world. That’s an outright lie that’s been disproven time and again, but when it’s being told to a reporter in an interview, the reporter doesn’t call it out as false information. That is the problem with this country, people report lies as fact. There are so many fake news stories on FB I spend more time fact-checking than anything else and I feel like I’m the only one fact-checking. (Sorry, it’s a little long, I lost my mind for a moment or two.)
It’s very, very disturbing. Similar attitudes displayed and reasons given for people going that way with our Brexit vote. Though I think this campaign has gone even more extreme.
Of course, it is worth nothing that more people DID vote for Hillary, so the biggest reason as it turns out is the flaws in the Electoral College system. Nonetheless, the public vote was very close and that is so worrying (and, of course, it would have been far less likely that the electoral college vote would have gone to him if the public vote had been less close and there hadn’t been so many who voted for him).
I agree with the person somewhere in your comments who said that social media and news reports played a big role – people seem to be becoming more and more incapable of fact checking, of distinguishing fact from opinion, truth from lies and understanding cause and effect. So many people now appear to question nothing, no matter how clearly ridiculous it is, and they are wilfully accepting and spreading anything, however, untruthful that supports their prejudices and views.
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Just plain dumb or naive
And then, there’s this, by Lindy West in the New York Times:
that was so thought provoking and strongly spoken Carol. There are so many Americans reeling right now – and so many also defending why they voted like they did. It’s going to be interesting (and really scary) to see how this pans out in the years ahead. I really hope he has good advisers that he listens to and that all is not lost.
Yes, Carol you have nailed it…unfortunately. Your essay is so moving that I’ll have to post a comment later. Thanks for a shake-up…
I’m still perplexed – – but only about a few friends who voted for Trump. In the sense of you have captured it perfectly for most of the people I know who supported him. You’ve nailed everyone. I have a handful of otherwise lovely Jewish educated female friends and all I can think of is that they were exceedingly naïve.
It makes me extraordinarily sad but I don’t know our relationships will ever be the same.
I am in the same boat.
Yes, yes…sadly, yes. You nailed it. I’ve talked about all of this with my kids, 10 and 14, neither of which understand how anyone could vote for such a vile person. It broke my heart to talk to my 10-year-old about ignorance, but she needs to understand that to be informed, one must research and read FACTS. And some people just aren’t smart enough to do so. My son sees the danger in the whole administration. He said “Pence is worse!” I’m so thankful my kids can think for themselves…and that they know people from Mexico, India, China, black kids, mixed race kids, Jewish kids, etc. They learn from those friends, embrace them, are enriched by the differences, … and will be better adults.
Knowing you as well as I do, this doesn’t surprise me about your children.
Honestly, I think Trump is as shocked as we are. He was preparing for defeat and business ventures post election. Now it seems he is walking back SOME of the things he said to inflame his voting base. He will run smack dab into the government machinery that he raged against. What will he do next? Who knows. Will he listen to the far right people in Congress? Will he moderate and learn that there are many things he simply cannot do? We will see, and I hope and pray that too many people aren’t hurt along the way. I have always and will continue to stand up to any kind of hatred, bigotry, bullying I encounter. Most of the Trump voters that I know will do the same.
Really, it’s time to abolish the Electoral College. We DID win. By almost 2 million votes. When we actually count one person, one vote, the results will be much more representative.
I am 10x more furious with the idiots who did not vote than I am with his sheeple who did. You laid it all out there exactly as it is. I feel fortunate that I have very few friends that voted for him but, I can’t forget or forgive the women that did. We must find a way to heal and we have to get rid of the electoral college once and for all!
b
Great post Carol, and definitely puts into words a lot of what I’ve been feeling.
In case you have not heard/seen yet, please check out #UnrigTheElection on Facebook. It’s a small group so far, just created yesterday. But, dedicated to making sure ALL the votes are counted and demanding they are, and recounts are done where needed. There are many states where the vote differences are miniscule, and too many irregularities to let slide. We need to insist the vote is audited and be positive it’s legit, before we acknowledge it.
Deep sighs and an amen. Now trying to figure out ways to have an impact and take a stand. Great post.
I am so frightened by this! And it is trickling across the border into Canada already. A couple of days ago, my daughter’s friend, a Filipino woman born here in this country, was standing in a checkout line. The woman in front of her adjusted her large baby stroller and to give her room, my daughter’s friend backed up, bumping into the man behind her. She apologized, but he snarled at her, “You’d better be grateful we’re not in Trump’s America. Go back to where you came from!”
The cashier handled it well, telling him she was closing the line after my daughter’s friend and he stalked off to another line.
But suddenly the thin veneer that has been covering people’s deep-seated prejudice has been peeled back. And I’m not liking what has been exposed.
As a Canadian myself, this is why I have been outspoken like crazy on social media. We Canadians can be quite smug and think something like this cannot happen in Canada. Not true. I have been a citizen here for 14 years now and it happens every day. Trumpism is contagious. It started before him, in Europe and has now arrived across the seas – open racism and bigotry. As a grandparent of a beautiful black child, it is my duty to speak up as well as teach her to be proud of who she is – as a human being, woman and person of colour!
I grew up in a household that championed democratic values and took on bigotry. My father started the Anti-Defamation League in Tucson. Droves of people who experienced discrimination in Tucson would come to his office for real support and leadership to promote real change. One, in particular, was a black man who wanted to join a country club that was discriminating against all minorities. My father championed this fight and the man was allowed in. All of the country clubs in Tucson had to open up to people of all races and religions. Being Jewish and because of my father’s activism, I personally became a target of very serious bigotry – including death threats. Politics is ugly, but not that complicated. HRC lost the election because the Democratic Party lost its authenticity to white working class Americans. Like it or not, Trump was able to connect with them. These people were taken for granted by HRC. As an example, she virtually did not campaign in Wisconsin and hardly in Michigan -until the very end when they realized it was going the wrong way, White working class Americans were attracted to Trump for a variety of reasons. Many of those same voters – voted for Obama – 53% of white women voted for Trump. This is an economic vote and pleading for someone to address the negative economic dislocations in their lives. I hope the democratic party gets back to being the party of the working class.
I admire you so much for speaking so bluntly about this topic. I really enjoyed reading it and agree with the points you have given out. You tackled each section well. I still cannot believe the result of this election but do know that though my success will have nothing to do with he government and that I am still able to make positive changes in my surroundings by standing firm in what I believe in and speaking up and helping out those who need it. I believe if each good individual do this, we will be able to combat what these hateful people do.
It is a sociologist’s dream to figure out this election.So much bad history rearing it’s ugly head in paralelels. I think they easy way is to get rid of the electoral college!
Nail meet head. Great post!! I have been wondering myself who the heck are these people that actually voted for him?! And this list totally makes sense. Your quote from the woman pumping her gas reminded of something my BFF’s mom told me last week. She is a teacher in a high school and told me that after the results were in her kids of color and gays were literally in the corner crying. Her muslim students were praying in same corner. And her “redneck” kids were shouting how they can now “grab p**** whenever they want now”. It shook me and terrified me to my core to hear that. THIS is what Trump’s America looks like.
My Brother in Law, who is just 16. Has tried to get in arguments with me about how awful Clinton is and how she should be in jail and what not. He’s 16! What the heck does he know?! The kid spends most of his days on video games so i know he’s not actually reading current news. So i know he’s just repeating what my Father in Law has said and it’s just sad.
Great post, Carol. You voiced so much of what I’ve been thinking. It’s frustrating, disheartening, infuriating…and a call to action.
I’m kind of tired of this debate now four days post election, its been exhausting, but you do make some valid points. I would like to say I know a few people who voted for Trump that don’t have a racist bone in their body and did it because they believe the current political system is corrupt. I personally have tried to see how people feel on both sides and be understanding.
I agree with you wholeheartedly that most of the lost jobs are due to technology and will NEVER come back. In the case of older workers, they don’t see alternatives, even though there are plenty. What I DON’T understand, in any way shape or form is why white educated affluent women and Jews would believe his nonsense? Some are really nasty about it? What in God’s name do they see in that blowhard jerk? I’m not buying the “towing the party line” explanation because he’s hardly a Republican at all. It’s still keeping me up at night.
I’m stunned too. I just hope we can all be kind. I hope.
I have family and friends in Texas, Ohio and KY…who voted Trump. Some are what you describe, but some are not. The ones I have the most issue with are my friends who are educated and smart. They say they voted their pocketbook, but that is not good enough anymore. For those I really care about I want to hear nothing about it from them. Those who are casual friends or nasty about it…are counted as toxic in my life. I’m done.
I live in Australia and I am worried about the state of the USA. He really worries me. I just hope that he has advisors who will steer him in the right direction.
Oh, that was the most interesting read I have had in along time… Of course the president election in US is a big thing all over the world, and all over the News here in Europe too. Thanks for sharing Carol:-)
Such a great post which almost reflects all the thoughts that has been going through my mind lately. This is surely frustrating & disturbing on what has happened to this country, but I trust it is not going to be worse!
What is happening is unacceptable Nd must be stopped.
The fact that Trump won the elections still won’t sink in. Or I refuse for it to sink in. 🙁
This election year has been exhausting and the outcome beyond horrifying. I’d love nothing better than to forget it and get back to normal life. But, life now isn’t normal and the reality of what we face is scarier than anything I have experienced in my 58 years. I might sound melodramatic, but every morning since the election I wake up with a pit in my stomach. I am a quiet, introverted person and I shy away from making waves. But now I feel as if I must act, must raise a loud voice, must not remain in the background. I’m on shaky ground, as the saying goes, but I feel that this is what I must to as a person of conscience.
Wow, that’s a little full on. A lot to think about.
Oh wow
I really like your perspective on this — I mean I’m in Africa but this turnout is buzzing all-over the world, and you dissected it here so well!
Woah really indepth post, clearly you know what you’re talking bout and feel strongly about your views on the matter. True the election results did shock the world & yes the first female president would have been a great way to create history. I liked the last part Silence=death very thought provoking and apt to end the post.
This is such an important message that must be known. I like the quote you made ” The fact that we lost doesn’t make us wrong; the fact that they don’t believe in us doesn’t make us disappear.”Very powerful words.
I think we all have to remember that most people that voted for trump didn’t vote for him, they voted for change. He was the only one offering a change. We need to stop judging Trump voters since most of them didn’t vote for him and his character, but the policies he promises.
Xoxo
Good luck with that. Just take a look at what’s happening even as I’m typing this. See any new names besides the old ones? I thought we wouldn’t see some of those bottom feeders, but if he’s “draining the swamp” (Ha!) they’re coming to the top.Lady Liberty is crying for our country.
I am shocked this has happened in America in 2016. I can see why the uneducated voted for him but what excuse does the educated citizens have? Are they racist and sexiest too? Maybe they are… Because there simply isn’t any excuse in the world why they would vote for a hateful man like Trump! They see him like an angel, it’s so weird! I just can’t understand how can anyone trust a man that has been caught in plenty of lies, cheated on his 3 wives, ripped off small businesses owners that did business with him, ripped off people with his fake “Trump University, has verbally disrespected women and minorities. He Talks about “Making America Better Again,” but used products from other countries and hired illegal immigrants to build his properties. That right there takes jobs away from Americans! He could have purchased his products in America and used American workers! It just doesn’t make sense to me! It is almost like he brainwashed them all! I thought Americans were smarter than that! I expected something like this happening in another country but not here!
What shocks me the most is that the GOP and the evangelical “Christians” sold their souls to the devil himself by continually making excuses for him and allowing this whole thing to happen.The GOP could have selected a more qualified Republican nominee but instead they selected a demon who was popular enough to win presidency. Just imagine how angry God must be with them all for choosing someone that dishes this much hate!
Please delete first comment I made an error on it, thanks!
I am shocked this has happened in America in 2016. I can see why the uneducated voted for him but what excuse does the educated citizens have? Are they racist and sexist too? Maybe they are… Because there simply isn’t any excuse in the world why they would vote for a hateful man like Trump! They see him like an angel, it’s so weird! I just can’t understand how can anyone trust a man that has been caught in plenty of lies, cheated on his 3 wives, ripped off small businesses owners that did business with him, ripped off people with his fake “Trump University, has verbally disrespected women and minorities. He Talks about “Making America Better Again,” but used products from other countries and hired illegal immigrants to build his properties. That right there takes jobs away from Americans! He could have purchased his products in America and used American workers! It just doesn’t make sense to me! It is almost like he brainwashed them all! I thought Americans were smarter than that! I expected something like this happening in another country but not here!
What shocks me the most is that the GOP and the evangelical “Christians” sold their souls to the devil himself by continuously making excuses for him and allowing this whole thing to happen.The GOP could have selected a more qualified Republican nominee but instead they selected a demon who was popular enough to win presidency. Just imagine how angry God must be with them all for choosing someone that dishes this much hate!
I still can’t believe that this is all happening and I am really scared of the coming years. I don’t want to lose my hope. It’s important that we keep voicing our concerns. It’s important that we fight back. Once we stop fighting that’s when it all ends for us.
i think anyone who is surprised turned a blind eye to all that was transpiring through the course of the campaign.
We must be careful not to alienate the very people we are trying to convince. Calling someone ignorant is not going to make them suddenly smart or trust anything that you are saying. By doing that, you have effectively pushed them in the other direction. I find that many Trump supporters on my FB newsfeed are quoting and sharing information from fake news sites. These sites have names like “American Patriot” which makes them sound so real and factual. Mainstream media has been tarnished with the brush of “liberal” making it not factual in some minds. No matter how much I try to research facts, and inform, these people hold firm to their convictions. We all tend to live in a bubble that reinforces our beliefs. I am trying very hard to win these people with facts and kindness – even in the face of nastiness. I will also become politically active – something I haven’t made the time to do in a long time as it seems useless where I live (firmly in the middle of the country in a very RED state).
I consider them a lost cause. It takes too much energy to deal with them. So I don’t really care that they are concerned if I call a spade a spade. Every day on my facebook page I am sharing something simple people can do–if you haven’t friended me, you can or maybe I”ll try to remember to make them public.
Agreed (with you, Carol). It’s WILLFUL ignorance for the most part, so no matter what you say, they’ll find a way to argue. My uncle recently commented on one of my posts saying that I needed to stop believing the “lies” the media was feeding me about Pence. I’d posted a meme that said something like “It’s not like the theater refused him service; he’s not a gay man trying to buy a wedding cake in Indiana.” And honestly, I could not think of a single thing to say to my uncle, it was just THAT ignorant. So I deleted the comment and let it go. Some people can’t be saved.
Carol, we watched on in amazement as the campaign unfolded. First they said he wouldn’t become the Republican representative for the presidential race. Then he did. They said he wouldn’t or couldn’t win the election. The media in Australia is now saying things like is Australia ready for a Trump-like candidate! I can feel your frustration in your thoughts.
I understand better now.
This was beautifully written & it was very enlightening. I was in Japan when I learned about it and was like, “What is happening with the world?” I totally feel ya. The turn-out of the recent elections here in my country last May is pretty similar to what happened in the United States. Trump is a businessman by heart, which could be scary as to what decisions he’ll make.
So many emotions right now. You raise some really good issues.
I feel like America is so much scarier since Trump was elected. It isn’t a place I want my child to grow up in, but we don’t have many options, sadly.
We’ve got to start holding our media accountable for only reporting the truth and for calling out a lie when they hear it. These past 8 years, the media has just been repeating lies and letting people get away with it. Sadly, I heard it on an NPR interview this week where the reporter allowed a Republican Representative to state that the US pays the highest taxes in the world. That’s an outright lie that’s been disproven time and again, but when it’s being told to a reporter in an interview, the reporter doesn’t call it out as false information. That is the problem with this country, people report lies as fact. There are so many fake news stories on FB I spend more time fact-checking than anything else and I feel like I’m the only one fact-checking. (Sorry, it’s a little long, I lost my mind for a moment or two.)
It’s very, very disturbing. Similar attitudes displayed and reasons given for people going that way with our Brexit vote. Though I think this campaign has gone even more extreme.
Of course, it is worth nothing that more people DID vote for Hillary, so the biggest reason as it turns out is the flaws in the Electoral College system. Nonetheless, the public vote was very close and that is so worrying (and, of course, it would have been far less likely that the electoral college vote would have gone to him if the public vote had been less close and there hadn’t been so many who voted for him).
I agree with the person somewhere in your comments who said that social media and news reports played a big role – people seem to be becoming more and more incapable of fact checking, of distinguishing fact from opinion, truth from lies and understanding cause and effect. So many people now appear to question nothing, no matter how clearly ridiculous it is, and they are wilfully accepting and spreading anything, however, untruthful that supports their prejudices and views.