There have been so many words this week. Columns. Blogs. Facebook posts. Sermons. So many attempts to use language to describe the massive influx of feelings that so many Americans are experiencing. The fear of an administration run by those who have too willingly rejected the humanity of others. The hope and exhilaration that comes with imagining what a brighter future might entail. The exhaustion from the endless stream of phone calls, text messages, advertisements, fliers, and commercials that have bombarded us for the past several weeks. Regardless of how any individual may have voted, it has felt as though America has spent the week nursing a collective hangover, trying to pick up the pieces from a brutal and grueling fight for the survival of this country.
The reality is that regardless of who was elected on Tuesday night, we are left with a fractured country, economic turmoil, ideological tensions, and far, far too much hatred and vitriol directed at the citizens walking alongside us. While the work to repair what is broken might have been a little easier one way or another (depending on your version of fixing things…), there was never a magical option that would make our problems go away, that would make it so that we didn’t have 50% of the country voting for the OTHER party. We were told that the future of our nation rested on this one decision, but the truth is much more complicated. Now that we are done putting our time, money, and resources into winning an election, it is time to turn our collective attention to actually solving the problems that face our country.
To those who are happy with the result of the election: here is your chance to prove a lot of people wrong. This is the chance to show us what Making America Great entails. But to do that, you must agree to the ultimate mandate of this nation: that America be great for every single American, that we live out our values of liberty and justice for ALL, not just for those who voted like you and who look like you and who believe like you.
To those who are sad with the result of the election: the work is just getting started. This country has always reserved a special role for the minority opinion. This is the moment to insist on solutions to the real problems that plague this nation, and to hold elected officials accountable to all their constituents. It is time to be strong and resolute, to demand that any solution that diminishes the identity or value of another human being is no solution at all, and that things will get better when everyone is willing to contribute to the betterment of the nation.
As Aaron Sorkin most notably put it, more and more we are expecting less and less from one another, and that needs to change. And the truth is that much of the conversation in the leadup to the election was stoking the ego of the self. YOUR vote is essential. YOUR donations will change the tide. YOUR volunteerism will win the day. These are great ways to convince someone to participate in the process, but they are a gross misunderstanding of the American experience. Because America is a country that thrives when we are greater than the sum of our parts. We are a nation that demands that we look around and see the other people trying to participate in this beautiful and flawed idea and do all we can to make it better for everyone involved. A strong economy is one that makes life affordable and accessible to as many as people as possible. The American Dream is one that can and should be realized by anyone who does the work to call this place home.
As we close a week that has brought out the worst in us, I am belligerent in my faith in humanity. I absolutely refuse to give up hope that we can move beyond the cruelty and condescension that an election brings out in us, and instead indulge our better impulses. I believe deeply that when we look at each other as human beings, as partners in the work of living a life filled with meaning and grace, we can’t help but exemplify our compassion, care, creativity, and ingenuity. Despite all evidence to the contrary, I absolutely refuse to give up hope that we can heal that which is broken. Because I believe in you, even when you don’t.
In those moments when my faith is rattled, I turn to one of the greatest examples of American exceptionalism: Ted Lasso. In the Season 1 finale, Ted offers words that have stuck with me in all my hardest moments:
“Now look, this is a sad moment right here. For all of us. There ain’t nothing I can say standing in front of you right now that can take that away. But please, do me this favor, will ya: lift your heads up and look around this locker room. Yeah? Look at everybody else in here. I want you to be grateful that you’re going through this sad moment with all these other folks. Because I promise you, there is something worse than being sad. And that is being alone and being sad. Ain’t nobody in this room is alone…Let’s be sad now. Let’s be sad together. And then we can be a gosh-darn goldfish. Onward. Forward.”
This week, I am coming to terms with the fact that I can’t change campaigns, policies, or even minds. I can’t decide elections. But I can be right here. I can ensure that nobody ever has to go through this, any of this, alone. I know for a fact that there is a network of people all around the world who won’t let you struggle alone. All you have to do is ask for help, ask for love, ask for kindness, and you will get it. Ain’t nobody in this country is alone. And when we’re done feeling our big feelings, we can proceed onward, forward, and we’ll do that together too.
Comments