The Eye of the Hurricane
We made it. Many of us have already cast our votes. Others are just getting off work and heading to the polls. We have made it into the eye of the hurricane.
There’s nothing else I can do. I cast my vote, completed every square box on my ballot. I could have voted straight ticket, I realized too late. After what happened here in 2010, I do my best to show props to the judges. I filled in every “Yes” to retain them. It’s my civic duty.
I know I don’t have to share how I voted. For once in my life, it may even be dangerous to share my political leanings. I could be in jail by this time next year for writing this post. The America that can’t see that coming is the country I fear for.
Fear has been the keyword this election. Everyone is so afraid for the future, yet afraid to change. Instead, they trust the fearmongering of a madman who, if elected, is going to set us back fifty years and also influence the courts for the next fifty. Many voting “for” him say they are instead voting “against” Hillary Clinton.
To continue with the Hamilton theme, Alexander Hamilton endorsed Thomas Jefferson over Aaron Burr. Hamilton and Burr: former friends. Hamliton and Jefferson never saw eye-to-eye. Hamilton still endorsed Jefferson. Why? “Jefferson has beliefs. Burr has none.”
Hillary Clinton believes in Peace. Children. Education. Love.
Donald Trump believes in himself and his arrogance. “Make America Great Again.” America is already great. Ask anyone he wants to deport. Ask anyone here on a green card, a university fellowship, or vacation. We may not be the Peacekeeping Superpower of comic books, but fiction is fiction. Remember the Peacekeepers in Farscape? They were the villains.
In case you haven’t already figured it out, I voted for Hillary.
I voted for love. We have worked too hard for LGBTQIA equality, for civil rights and human rights. We have come too far to turn back now.
Allowing Mike Pence to run this country while Trump is off “Making America Great Again” is terrifying to many of my LGBT friends. Continuing to disavow climate change is stupid and dangerous. Widening the racial disparity in our country by continuing to sweep it under the rug decays the legacy we leave our children. Building a wall between the US and Mexico…like that’s the only way people can get here. Not that long ago, people died by the boatload when attempting to cross from Haiti or Cuba.
Some find death a reasonable risk for the rewards we offer. Walls can be scaled. Oceans can be crossed. In the words of Dr. Ian Malcom from Jurrassic Park, “Life finds a way.” (What he failed to mention is that life also comes back to bite you. Watch out for those velociraptors, Mr. Trump.)
Life found a way in Auschwitz. Life found a way in Vietnam. Life found a way in Rwanda. Life will find a way in the United States, after we elect a dictator and wonder what the fuck happened to our freedom. It saddens and disappoints me just how many of my fellow Americans are willing to throw away our freedoms over an irrational fear they might lose an assault rifle or two. It’s infuriating to know that only a slim majority of us have enough common sense to see where a Trump presidency will lead us.
Shit’s about to get real, America. See you on the other side.