I went to bed last night before the election results came in. I knew what was going to happen, and I didn’t want to see it. My heart was beating so fast, I couldn’t stand still, I was crying off all my makeup – I put on my favorite podcast, took a shower, and took my sorry self to bed.
I woke up this morning to a nightmare.
There’s so much to say on this that I almost feel like there’s nothing left to say. You can look anywhere – I recommend the Huffington Post – for information on Trump, Pence, their policies, and why the results of last night’s election have left me sick to my stomach and shaking.*
After the fear, the disappointment, and the embarrassment, I’m left with one question: not “how did this happen?” but rather, “what do we do now?”
My first, immediate reaction, of course, was “well, I’m moving to Canada.” I have Canadian family whom I love dearly, and every time I visit them in Montreal I feel loved and at home and, honestly, moving up there and learning French doesn’t even seem like that bad an option. I would consider moving to Canada even if I didn’t feel like I needed to, simply because I love it and always enjoy my time there. But, right now, I don’t think I will.
I was on the phone with my family last night, as the results came in, and my brother asked, “are you really going to go to Canada?” I told him I didn’t know, I couldn’t answer – as much as I love Canada, I don’t want to feel like I have to go there. I love my home, I love where I’m from, and I don’t want to leave it unless I’m excited and happy to. My brother took my hesitation as a yes and said, “you can’t. You don’t just flee and quit because you lost. You stand up and you keep fighting.”
This is a sentiment I’ve seen repeatedly this morning, on Facebook, on Twitter, on Tumblr – we lost, but we don’t back down. We do not let Trump and Pence take away the rights of our friends and neighbors who are people of color, LGBT+, women, or marginalized in any other way. We don’t sit quietly and let the racists, sexists, and homophobes who voted this man into power act abusively. We let our neighbor with the Trump Pence sign on their lawn know that their racism will not be tolerated. We do not tolerate. We spend the next four years making the GOP’s life a living hell. We don’t back down. We don’t run to Canada simply because we lost. Our own country deserves better.
I know this is easier said than done right now, but at least it gives me a little hope. I may have woken up to a nightmare this morning, but I also woke up to so much love – messages of love and support from my family here and in Canada, friends asking me how I’m doing, friends sending love and support and light and hope. Right now, we have to hope. I love Canada, and it’ll still be there in a few years. I need to give my own country a second chance first.
* This author recognizes that she is a white woman and thus is in a safer and more privileged position than many of her non-white peers.