I stayed inside the polling place till the last of the 249 votes was counted in precinct 405. Then I went home to watch what I had not thought thinkable as the other many millions of votes were counted. This is probably one of the cleanest elections in our history, which only magnifies the irony.
I’ve been confused about my country since Reagan. And tonight more than ever. So feel free to ignore and discount anything I say about politics in my country ever again.
My read: gender, race, fear and price of eggs. Kamala was a great candidate, but if she were a guy or a white woman…..and we had talked more about eggs.
I can’t give any big strategic guidance about the next four years. We (the planet) really don’t have four years to waste on important things, which now we probably will. And the mud isn’t even dry from Helene. Clearly, those of us speaking of “vital conditions,” public health, or climate have failed to communicate well enough to overcome….gender, race and the price of eggs.
New world, so I’m going to listen carefully to those with whom I disagree so profoundly. Obviously, I’m missing something I need to hear of anger and frustration. I am pretty sure Trump and his Senate will fail to give any real balm to what drives that anger, so it is crucial we listen carefully. And I’ll listen to those who have been deeply disappointed by their nations–Germans, South Africans. This is a crucial time to listen to the pain that would make such a man votable.
In the meantime, I feel like we (at least me) have let down my daughters and grandsons.
But we’re not dead, yet. And we can’t give up on their world.
There is great value in simply doing the right thing even if 2% more than half see it differently, Live by facts, follow basic science, show decency for the poor. These may be minority positions but not by much. We need more Bonhoeffer than Rauschenbusch; Francis more than one of the random Popes with the fancy hats. But some humiility might help, too.
Listen. Do the right thing as best we know.
Life finds a way.
