This article is based on an interview conducted by the author with her Great Uncle William Nack, and.portrays his personal opinions and experiences.
William Nack, my Uncle Bill, grew up in a Republican household. While reflecting on his upbringing, he recalled that he did not feel politically educated until a college environment encouraged him to develop his own opinions. He now identifies as a liberal Democrat. Bill is a white, wealthy, and male 75-year-old veteran. The major demographic characteristic that separates him from many of the people who voted for Donald Trump is his level of education. He has gained this education from academic institutions, vast life experiences, and books—all of which he has embraced with an open mind. Bill told me, “You should listen to people you don’t agree with. It either strengthens your position or challenges your beliefs,” which causes you to develop a stance that you can proudly stand by.
Bill’s initial political stance was first challenged during the Civil Rights Movement, led by Martin Luther King Jr. This movement caused him to develop a liberal mindset, which was continually reinforced over time. For example, when his parents began to take advantage of Medicare, he was thankful the government was giving back to his parents, who he felt had worked hard to deserve that kind of care. Events such as the Voting Rights Act and the liberal court’s ruling in Miranda vs. Arizona (1966) helped Bill to see the good that the government can do for people.
Additionally, as a professional writer, Bill is a lover of the First Amendment. Throughout years as a cityside journalist, Bill interviewed welfare recipients, constantly interacting with the power center, and he saw how people got beat up by the system. All of these experiences have caused him to favor institutions that protect the underdogs. Journalism is just one of these institutions, and Donald Trump wants to squander it.
Bill sees that there are millions of people who feel left out and left behind, so they voted for Trump. However, Bill fears that the outcome of this election has “made America hate again.” Following election day, there has been continual exposure of the deep divides that remain in our nation. For example, Bill personally knows many Republicans who did not vote for Trump due to issues with his character: Trump is a sexual predator, he supports and trusts Vladimir Putin, and he shows blatant signs of racism against Muslims and immigrants. He suggests rounding up “these people” and forcing them to identify themselves, reminding Bill of the Japanese internment camps—“The most nasty violation of the civil rights of Americans in the 20th century,” he said. Trump condones the use of torture as a national policy, which Bill proclaims to be “damnably un-American.” Bill told me that, “I woke up on Wednesday morning after this election, in a country with which I am no longer familiar.”
Bill said that the choice in this election was obvious to him. Like so many others, he voted for Hillary in hopes of keeping Trump out of office. He considers Trump to be a fraud, based on the fact that he never held public office, has failed as a business owner on multiple occasions, and is the ultimate bullsh*t artist.
“You couldn’t even tell if [Trump] was a Republican or a Democrat,” he said. Trump used to support pro-choice and universal healthcare, but he has since turned his policies around, and as Bill says, is “moving America backwards.” He has minimal credentials, possesses little-to-no ideology, and appears to lack a sense of political awareness.
While Bill confessed that Hillary clinton carried too much baggage to be an easily successful candidate, he confidently noted that none of what she did compared to Trump’s errors. Additionally, Bill included that he would have loved a woman president.
“I have three daughters. Why wouldn’t I be an advocate for women? Equal pay… what’s so complicated about that? They’re just as smart and ambitious as the guys are,” he said.
He voted “With Her” to vote against Trump. She was center left and politically predictable—both traits that brought a sense of ease over our nation, rather than ensued the chaos that has broken out in the past few weeks. Bill feels that the protests are a scared and angry reaction, and he fears that people and the media are going to grow numb to it.
“Save it for when he f*cks up,” Bill said—or commits an act of injustice, such as the day he appoints somebody to the supreme court—“an appointment which was stolen from President Obama.” Bill supports the Million Woman March, which is going to occur the day after Inauguration Day to protest against sexual predators.
So, what do we do from here? How do we continue to move forward? Well, as Americans, we must turn to baseball to rediscover hope and joy.
For almost 70 years, my great uncle Bill has been cheering for the underdog, the Chicago Cubs. This year, that love and dedication finally paid off when the Cubs won the World Series 8-7, and Uncle Bill was able to celebrate, knowing that he had remained loyal to them for all of that time. Sometimes reaching a goal requires endurance, whether the challenge lasts 68 years or the length of the next presidential term. With love and dedication, together we can make the best of any situation.
“I’ve been waiting 68 years for this—since I was seven years old. Thank God it’s over. They did it. Cubs won 8 to 7.”