What is there to do now, after the horrific election results here in the states? What must I do to combat this divisive, xenophobic, fearmongering neanderthal of a person, Donald Trump?
I must, and gladly, dedicate myself to my daughter. She must know me, as I am, as I was, and as I am yet to be. The only way that I can ensure this - to guarantee it – is to write. I must provide her with help to understand the world, both today and long into the future.
The blessing and the curse of this modern social media universe that we have given ourselves over to is that we have created a permanent record, for all time, of our thoughts, our actions, our hopes, our shames, our successes, and our failures. Generations from now, people will still be able to access this information in a way never before in human history. And so, I too commit myself to this record.
Our future is unknown, and unknowable. Right now, we stand on the precipice of the most critical and dangerous phase of American history since WW2. I myself am grieving, and it is little comfort to know that I am not alone. The damage this will reap upon the world is impossible to quantify today, but I fear it will be vast and permanent. The bonds of trust that keep a society together have been weakened, and if they haven’t shattered completely already, they may do so at any moment.
I’ve seen people say that this will set us back decades. I believe that is a false view of the function of history. The world is under constant construction, demolition, and reconstruction. The illusion of regression ignores that everything is what we build, subject to infinite revision.
How many of us look around and don’t recognize the faces on the other side as our compatriots? If today is a eulogy for what was, who are its true authors? It is so easy to cast the blame upon others, to exalt in one’s righteousness and seek vindication in the annals of the future yet untold. It is a story that we hold fast to, and in many ways is the story of the victors in this election. Absolving one's self, accusing others. Its not my fault. Its theirs.
The harder task is to look inward and question. Not to abandon one’s core beliefs, nor to quit striving toward some greater end. But to ask whether or not our perspective has been obscured.
When presented with circumstances beyond comprehension, this is the lesson I hope to teach my daughter. Not to quit. Not to waver. Not to lose sight of what is true and just and right. But to learn. To always, always, always learn.