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Don't Panic
9 years ago
I honestly wasn't expecting this. My phone exploded with twitter and telegram notifications around 5am and all I could do was lie there thinking "Uh-oh. He's won, hasn't he."
Whichever way you voted, I've written down a few of my thoughts on the matter. I hope you'll accept the humble words of this jaded, working-class brit. Feel free to post your opinions below, just don't let it turn into a shitstorm. I'm going to keep this journal as unbiased and hateless as possible. I'm sure we've all had quite enough hate for one year.
First Things First
it's in the title. DON'T PANIC. America is not going to change overnight just because it has a new president. Even if he decides to rewrite the entire constitution, political legislation is something that takes months, sometimes years to plan, produce, clarify and approve. So don't expect every neighborhood to have a concentration camp by the end of the week.
To younger readers - you've been privileged to grow up in a very progressive era for America and the rest of the world. I remember a time, less than 20 years ago when gays and transgenders were only represented as a punchline in poorly-written sitcoms. When climate change still went by the misleading definition of 'global warming' and nationalized American health benefit was dismissed as communism. Since then, we've had a black president, multiple states accepting gay marriage as law, renewable energy companies gaining ground over corporate fossil fuel giants and even transgender bathrooms. Even with all of the war and global catastrophes that have occurred, America has grown in to a much more responsible and respected superpower than it was when I was growing up.
After all that progression, seeing a man like Donald Trump enter the White House must seem like the apocalypse. But it isn't. We've taken too many steps forward and come too far for him to reverse all of the good that has been done. Make no mistake though, this is definitely a massive step back in terms of our progression as a species.
Big Boy's Brexit
I've seen a lot of people comparing the results of this election to Brexit, and how an extremely vocal, anti-establishment right-winger can completely topple a stable democratic system. In many ways, they are right. If you voted for the democrats this election, you know pretty much exactly how most of us brits felt back in May when the results came in. But, even though I am strongly apposed to Brexit and all of the hate it has generated, these decisions were made via democratic process and the result must be respected, win or lose. Many of us had grandparents that fought and died for our freedom to choose the leaders that we want to govern our respective countries. Don't do the typical kneejerk reaction and blame the system. That's what Trump does when he loses, and you're all better than that.
My only worry is the people, like with Brexit, will use this election victory as an excuse to justify their right-wing opinions and ideals against immigrants, or whomever is the target of their small-minded bigotry. The only real over-night change with Brexit was a sudden spike in violent hate crime against immigrants. But this could be escalated tenfold in the case of the election victory, simply because most of the vocal republican demographic also happen to be armed. If you are an immigrant to America yourself, or belong to any one of the multiple races Trump declared war on during his campaign, I urge you not to take any chances if you have leave the house in the next few days. Please be safe and take care.
Also, don't get me wrong, I'm not a massive fan of Hillary Clinton either. But even if she did get elected as president, the senate vote would still have come up republican. She would have been completely toothless to make any serious changes to America while the republicans block her at every turn, much in the same way they did with President Obama. The republicans are looking out for their own interests and the easiest way to do that is to make the current democratic leader look as ineffective as possible.
The World Stage
Make no mistake America, this doesn't just affect you. In terms of how this affects the rest of the world, my biggest worry is more of a long-term change in global culture and society. With Britain leaving the EU and America leaving ... well ... the 21st century, this may set a precedent to other right-wing politicians in other democratic countries whose population is also bitter and jaded about the unheard calls for help, excessive immigration and lack of economic growth. France, for example. National Front leader Marine Le Pen may win the French election because of these recent events and take France out of the EU as well, completely crippling it, financially. Europe may be plunged into a new dark age of digital espionage with Russia. Normally I would dismiss that as a nightmare dystopian future, but for a lot of people, we're already living in one.
My heart also goes out to Syria, Libya, Afghanistan and all of the other countries being torn apart by war and in desperate need of aid and sanctuary. The first world should have used it's privileged position to open its arms to any fellow human being in need of help. But this year, an overwhelming number of people in our countries have made it quite clear that we are more concerned about building walls than building bridges.
A Summary
Trump is not the first rich white guy to win an American election and he won't be the last. And need I remind everyone that Mr President is being put on trial for ONE of his MANY rape allegations on the 16th of December. This is also a man with no political experience whatsoever who has been barricaded from using his own Twitter account because he can't control his anger. With any luck, he'll be impeached by the end of the year.
Oh, and just a quick footnote.
On this day in 1989, the Berlin Wall was knocked down by its own citizens, allowing German families of every race, colour and creed that had been torn apart by communist tyranny to leap into each others' open arms.
On this day in 2016, the USA elected a president that has promised to build an impenetrable wall to separate his county from an entire race of people whom he denounced as murderous rapists.
One wall falls, another begins to rise...
Whichever way you voted, I've written down a few of my thoughts on the matter. I hope you'll accept the humble words of this jaded, working-class brit. Feel free to post your opinions below, just don't let it turn into a shitstorm. I'm going to keep this journal as unbiased and hateless as possible. I'm sure we've all had quite enough hate for one year.
First Things First
it's in the title. DON'T PANIC. America is not going to change overnight just because it has a new president. Even if he decides to rewrite the entire constitution, political legislation is something that takes months, sometimes years to plan, produce, clarify and approve. So don't expect every neighborhood to have a concentration camp by the end of the week.
To younger readers - you've been privileged to grow up in a very progressive era for America and the rest of the world. I remember a time, less than 20 years ago when gays and transgenders were only represented as a punchline in poorly-written sitcoms. When climate change still went by the misleading definition of 'global warming' and nationalized American health benefit was dismissed as communism. Since then, we've had a black president, multiple states accepting gay marriage as law, renewable energy companies gaining ground over corporate fossil fuel giants and even transgender bathrooms. Even with all of the war and global catastrophes that have occurred, America has grown in to a much more responsible and respected superpower than it was when I was growing up.
After all that progression, seeing a man like Donald Trump enter the White House must seem like the apocalypse. But it isn't. We've taken too many steps forward and come too far for him to reverse all of the good that has been done. Make no mistake though, this is definitely a massive step back in terms of our progression as a species.
Big Boy's Brexit
I've seen a lot of people comparing the results of this election to Brexit, and how an extremely vocal, anti-establishment right-winger can completely topple a stable democratic system. In many ways, they are right. If you voted for the democrats this election, you know pretty much exactly how most of us brits felt back in May when the results came in. But, even though I am strongly apposed to Brexit and all of the hate it has generated, these decisions were made via democratic process and the result must be respected, win or lose. Many of us had grandparents that fought and died for our freedom to choose the leaders that we want to govern our respective countries. Don't do the typical kneejerk reaction and blame the system. That's what Trump does when he loses, and you're all better than that.
My only worry is the people, like with Brexit, will use this election victory as an excuse to justify their right-wing opinions and ideals against immigrants, or whomever is the target of their small-minded bigotry. The only real over-night change with Brexit was a sudden spike in violent hate crime against immigrants. But this could be escalated tenfold in the case of the election victory, simply because most of the vocal republican demographic also happen to be armed. If you are an immigrant to America yourself, or belong to any one of the multiple races Trump declared war on during his campaign, I urge you not to take any chances if you have leave the house in the next few days. Please be safe and take care.
Also, don't get me wrong, I'm not a massive fan of Hillary Clinton either. But even if she did get elected as president, the senate vote would still have come up republican. She would have been completely toothless to make any serious changes to America while the republicans block her at every turn, much in the same way they did with President Obama. The republicans are looking out for their own interests and the easiest way to do that is to make the current democratic leader look as ineffective as possible.
The World Stage
Make no mistake America, this doesn't just affect you. In terms of how this affects the rest of the world, my biggest worry is more of a long-term change in global culture and society. With Britain leaving the EU and America leaving ... well ... the 21st century, this may set a precedent to other right-wing politicians in other democratic countries whose population is also bitter and jaded about the unheard calls for help, excessive immigration and lack of economic growth. France, for example. National Front leader Marine Le Pen may win the French election because of these recent events and take France out of the EU as well, completely crippling it, financially. Europe may be plunged into a new dark age of digital espionage with Russia. Normally I would dismiss that as a nightmare dystopian future, but for a lot of people, we're already living in one.
My heart also goes out to Syria, Libya, Afghanistan and all of the other countries being torn apart by war and in desperate need of aid and sanctuary. The first world should have used it's privileged position to open its arms to any fellow human being in need of help. But this year, an overwhelming number of people in our countries have made it quite clear that we are more concerned about building walls than building bridges.
A Summary
Trump is not the first rich white guy to win an American election and he won't be the last. And need I remind everyone that Mr President is being put on trial for ONE of his MANY rape allegations on the 16th of December. This is also a man with no political experience whatsoever who has been barricaded from using his own Twitter account because he can't control his anger. With any luck, he'll be impeached by the end of the year.
Oh, and just a quick footnote.
On this day in 1989, the Berlin Wall was knocked down by its own citizens, allowing German families of every race, colour and creed that had been torn apart by communist tyranny to leap into each others' open arms.
On this day in 2016, the USA elected a president that has promised to build an impenetrable wall to separate his county from an entire race of people whom he denounced as murderous rapists.
One wall falls, another begins to rise...
That's something no one gets to vote on.
One rather troubling development, is that republicans now hold majority in all the major governing bodies of USA, as well as the chair of president, which means they can brute force almost whatever legistlature they like, through. That is rarely a good thing to have.
Now on the other hand, would Hillary have been a good president? Probably not... the woe of two party system, is that there really isn't that much in the way of choice, with both parties fighting for much of the same voter blocks.
It was a really poor decision on behalf of the Democrats to have Hillary Clinton as their figurehead. They forced the republican voters to make a decision based on their hatred of the opposition rather than the values of their own candidate.
It didn't matter who the republican leader was, to these people. They would have sooner seen Herman Goering in the White House over Hillary Clinton.
But you are totally right, the US and the whole world will not change over night. I just hope we all can make the best out of this situation.
But don't worry. Like I've said to many friends in the past few hours - the world needs love, friendship and acceptance, now more than ever. And those are three things that are not open to democratic vote. :)
I just hope with all of my heart that this story will end in a different way.
And wow, this is lovely said! I couldn’t agree more! :)
The course of history isn't straight, and the ascendancy of any faction, nation or ideology is never permanent. With that in mind, humility is always the wisest approach at all times.
Or of course, you can always just reap what you have sown.
Peace.
Very well written responses, but I'm afraid he's blocked now. :/
What's scary is that he doesn't seem unintelligent at all, but we completely disagree on the basis of almost all of his perceived "facts". But this election wasn't about reason, it was about emotion. And the intensity of his anger is almost palpable. I'm sorry that anyone has to live with such rage.
It is lamentable that we have two separate and oppositional media narratives in America. As long as that is true, there may never be true reconciliation.
You are correct of course. If the United States wants to diffuse this hostile political atmosphere, they need to start choosing candidates who can stand for the needs of the republicans AND the democrats, not polarized one way or the other.
As I said in my journal though, don't worry. Trump winning this election hasn't made racism and bigotry justified in any way, it's just made it a little bit louder. Speaking of which, have you noticed that Trump's been a little bit more subdued since his win? Not nearly as loud or aggressive when he's on camera? I honestly think that the enormity of the task ahead has only just dawned on him. Being President of the United States is not as glamorous a job as Obama made it look. It is a long, grueling, thankless task that you can't walk away from. Trump won't always get to be in his comfort zone, on camera, in a spotlight and making noise. There are a lot of days where he'll have to sit down like an adult and go through paperwork, or sit in a conference and listen to other people talk, then come up with a response. He's only going to be in the environment in which he can thrive for about 2 or 3% of the time, in his daily grind.
I think the reason Mr Trump has been so subdued these last few days is because he's only just realizing that he's about to step into his own personal hell.
Let's see how he copes. :)
At first, I really wasn't sure to respond to your comment. It was filled with a lot of vitriol and I thought it was best ignored, but then it hit me. You've been ignored long enough. Your entire way of thinking has.
For now, I'm going to assume that you didn't vote for Trump because you're a racist, or a bigot. I have no reason to brand you with either of those labels. I believe you voted the way you did because you honestly want to shake up the system and make a change. To romp and stomp, as you put it.
The entire right-wing way of thinking has been branded as evil since the fall of the third reich. We've been teaching our kids that the left is this philanthropist saccharin wonderland filled with flowers and butterflies and right leads to evil, violent extremism and genocide for generations. But that simply isn't the case. Reality just isn't that black and white.
You were sick of being demonized when you voiced your opinions in public. You were tired of being shut down and silenced by the very people who believe that everyone should be given a right to speak freely. Nobody was prepared to sit down and have a rational discussion with you without being patronizing or sarcastic. So you went to the only place where you could voice your opinion and have it be truly heard - inside a private ballot box, on the 8th of November.
I think you voted for Trump because you believed he was the stronger candidate. Not because of what he stood for, but because Hillary Clinton didn't stand for anything. The left-wing was so convinced that its way of thinking was the path of good and everything else was pure evil, that it didn't feel like it needed to stand for anything. But a truly great candidate needs to stand for values of the Democrats AND the Republicans, not 100% one way or the other.
There's never only one way of thinking and everyone has to be given a voice, right or left.
I'm not only worried about the safety of democratic voters in your country, I'm worried about your safety, too. Not everyone is going to be as rational as I am and many are going to pigeonhole you with all of the people that voted for Trump because of racism and bigotry. You need to be on your guard in these next few weeks as well, from extremists on the left. People can sometimes respond violently if they feel backed into a corner.
I also see that you unfollowed me on the day I posted this journal. I'm sorry that my political opinions have stopped you from being able to enjoy my artwork.
Be safe.
So many people are reacting so damn strongly to this vote. That's normal. I expect it will settle down in a few days like it did with us for Brexit.
But yes, I really hope it does start to settle down before the civil unrest starts getting people hurt/killed. Really hoping all the students and protesters don't do anything drastic.