Lament
A couple of nights ago, Everett was sharing his normal end of the evening thoughts with Niki. I think I have shared on here before that Everett has a way of saving up all of his deepest thoughts before finally opening up just as we are trying to get him to go to sleep. That particular evening he shared with Niki, "Mom. I'm afraid of Donald Trump winning". Though Niki shared a similar fear, she did what good Mom's do and asked "Oh, honey. Why are you afraid". His reply has stuck in my head and has been pounding to match the throbs of my depression induced headache this morning. He said "I'm not afraid for me, I'm afraid for my black and brown friends". Some of you may read that and roll your eyes and some of you may think we let our kid hear too much of our talk about the election. I'm guessing for many of you though, you have similar stories of uttered or repressed fears that we have seen in our children. Niki was thoughtful and was able to reassure him that there are good people in this world and that we will all fight to make sure that his friends would be protected but to be honest, I'm a little afraid too. Let me be clear, I don't think that the danger in this world or all of the hate, racism and bigotry that so many people experience on a daily basis can be blamed on Donald Trump. I'm pretty sure that we have elected some pretty horrible people in this nation's past. The thing that scares me today is this rising boldness in people who hold some extremely hate filled beliefs. I feel a lot like Everett this morning. I'm afraid for my gay friends, my African American friends, women, those who hold different religious beliefs or those who have no religious beliefs at all. This morning I have seen notes placed on a young Lesbian woman's car, gloating about a Trump win and telling her to repent or "burn in hell". I have seen people in North Carolina, dressed in KKK hoods and robes, dancing on a bridge for all who pass under the bridge to see. I have seen people tie this Presidential victory to God's chosen plan for our country and calling Donald Trump "God's elect".
I know that everyone that voted for Donald Trump is not a racist. This was a confusing election. My dude Bernie Sanders was out in the primaries and I wasn't super pumped about Hillary but whenever I started to think about not voting for her, my mind went to those who had more at stake in the election. My friends who now have to wonder if a business will refuse them service because they are gay. They have to wonder if the marriage they have to their partner that they love and are fully devoted to, will no longer be recognized as legal. Many Muslims who have heard the talk of them being deported or if they leave the country they have to wonder if they will be let back in. Not to mention the threats of violence against them as individuals or their places of worship. For my African American brothers and sisters, in a time where police brutality and wild incarceration rates for young black men and many other pressing concerns, they wonder how much longer they will have to endure racial injustice. For all of the people, including family members, who rely on welfare programs to eat and have a roof over their heads. When I started to think more about what would be the best for the people who are under represented in our political sphere, my vote became less difficult.
Today, many people are calling for everyone to get over it and move on in unity. I say, not so fast. I say that isn't your call. Not if you never have had to worry about your marriage being termed invalid. Not if you have never literally had to look over your back because of your religious beliefs. Not if you have never had to worry about being beaten or unfairly treated by a police officer when you were pulled over. Not if you have never had your people group called a bunch of thugs and racists by the person who just won the presidency. The time for reconciliation will come, you just don't get to push the agenda. I suggest, for those Trump supporters who are waiting to move on and get along with things, while you are waiting you try and see things from someone's perspective other than your own. I know you were afraid of losing your rights but I promise you, that fear is a very realistic one for many Americans this morning.
As for my son Everett, I am so proud to call him my son. As I have been in a funk today and unsure about the future of things, I find hope in this one thing. We will one day leave this country to brilliant, compassionate people like him. I guarantee that our children will do better than we have. May the God of peace work wonders in our hearts, for the sake of future generations.