Here’s the thing, I really should not be writing a post in my current state of mind.  I am barely functioning after just 3 1/2 hours of sleep, after crying a bucket of tears, and with no nutritional value in my system for the past 22 hours, I am, as I said, barely functioning.

It’s a rare thing for me to discuss politics in my writing because well, I just don’t.  It doesn’t serve the purpose of our journey with you, our readers.  But there are exceptions to every rule and I find myself needing an exception.

Like so many, here on the morning after the presidential election, my first thought is to flee; to escape from the knowledge that millions of my fellow countrymen/women chose to elect a person, to the oval office, who ran his campaign on a platform of hate, bigotry and fear.  To escape from the knowledge that for the second time in my adult life, I’ve witnessed an election that resulted in the popular vote being dismissed by the number of electoral votes. Our system is inherently flawed.

I would love to see a viable 3rd or 4th political party in the United States because this two-party system doesn’t work. We have too many people in this country with too many colors and opinions to just have two choices.  Society cannot function with just yes or no.  We need a maybe or a not so much alternative.  And, while I freely admit I am not always able to comprehend the other sides’ point of view, I do respect the right to said view, and, it is the essence of democracy and the freedom of choice.  Even when we don’t agree.  But, I fear (there’s that word again) that we have crossed an invisible line in the sand when millions of people find ways in which to excuse the inexcusable  indecencies against humankind in order to ensure their view prevails.  That, I cannot accept – nor respect.

Yes. The results of this election will directly impact our personal lives, not only in moral philosophy, but also in the economics of day-to-day living in retirement.  I believe we could willingly adjust and redefine our path if the person newly elected to the oval office was not giving a rising voice to bigotry, which will not only directly impact our extended family, but also the families of millions of Americans who now – more than ever – will live in fear of being different.

To flee is an irrational gut instinct, but of course not the right choice.  If I flee, then the platform of fear wins and I cannot let fear dictate my life. Okay, well, my wicked fear of heights keeps me grounded, but this is an entirely different category of fear.

The world in which we live is changing.  England’s Brexit was first up, we’ve just had an enormous shift in life as we know it here in the United States, and if you listen to the moderators of world news coverage, there are more potential changes in the wind with the upcoming French and German elections.  But, life will continue on for all of us. For many of us, it will never again feel quite the same but we can learn from it, fight against it, or flee.  But what we cannot do is let fear keep us from embracing the world around us, or reaching out to others, or remembering that people are inherently good.  And, we cannot let fear keep us from traveling the world to find the good in mankind.

So while today I feel as if I’ve been hit by a MAC truck, I’m hoping tomorrow I’ll feel just a little bit better and ready to take on the fight against the platform of hate and bigotry, and to hold on to hope.

Hope

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for new content notifications.

Share: