The Morning After Pill

“So he won. The nation takes a deep breath. Raw ego and proud illiteracy have won out, and a severely learning-disabled man with a real character problem will be president.” This is how Garrison Keillor started out his article, Trump Voters Will Not Like What Happens Next. This article continues on to take a humorous look at this year’s election results. Because how else are we supposed to approach this? Many people have been left feeling completely and utterly  hopeless. People of color believe that this is America’s way of deciding that their lives do not matter. Members of the LGBTQ+ community feel that their newfound rights and hope may be stripped away. And people are left across the world afraid of what is yet to come. What do these results say about the American people? How do they reflect the fear and the prejudice of our world? And is there anything to learn?

Learn to respect. A man who is being tried for child molestation this December has just been elected president. The same man who was found, on tape, speaking about how he grabs women by their genitals without consent. Meanwhile, 52% of white women voted for him. This causes the mutual support of women to be called into question. Women and minorities alike have been bashed by Trump. So when were people taught that this level of disrespect is ok? When did anyone win the right to disrespect large groups of people? And when was this disrespect then accepted and taken in as truth? I find it completely appalling that many women voted for Trump, and it makes me truly ashamed for the culture we seem to be promoting. People need to be taught to value themselves. And to not take any degrading comments. We have all fought long and hard for equal rights.

Learn to fight. Trump cannot flip a switch. We, as a population, are strong and fierce. 100 years worth of fight cannot be taken away in four. We will not and cannot stand for it. So as small as it may seem, speak up. Fight to be heard. Never let anyone tell you, man or woman, that your race, gender, or sexual orientation can hold you back. Never give in. It is not over.

Learn that hate did not win here. Say out loud that fear did not win here. That racism did not win here. That homophobia did not win here. That none of it has won yet. It cannot. Not until the second we all render defenseless and put our hands up. Because every second that we fight is another moment that these values and virtues continue on. Every moment we stop hateful people from preventing us to love one another, we win.

Learn to listen. Whether your candidate won or lost, in the end all we have is a hope for a better America. There is no negotiation without listening. Listen to absorb and understand. Do not listen to answer and respond. Put thought into your words, and other people will to. React calmly, because we can make it through. The fate of us continues to rest in our hands and reactions. Do not let it slip.

Learn to laugh. And continue to be who you are. Continue to watch SNL late at night as you feel all hope has vanished. Read Garrison Keillor’s satirical articles about our divided nation. Because when faced with something heart crushing, humor finds a way to teach you something without making you contemplate moving to Canada entirely.

And finally, find the best in the worst. America was founded on immigrant families and a hope for a better tomorrow. This was no miracle, nor is it a failure. It may be scary and it may be intimidating, but we haven’t lost.  Because last time I checked, no one has given up yet.