It has been a long week…
... after a very long six years.
I am about to take another break from Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. More so Twitter as it is the space of words over images. More than half of Americans and the progressive parts of the world were celebrating the announcement of a Biden/Harris win with their presidential election yesterday and as anticipated the next rabbit hole will focus on 'will he or won't he' the last breathe of a Trump Whitehouse.
It has been a long six years. Any leadership after Obama was going to be anti-climatic. Sure, a Whitehouse run by a woman is long overdue, but Obama raised the level of character and leadership to new heights and there was no one in line that could meet those expectations.
So when this reality TV star, who constantly pontificates at how amazing he is, came right out of left field campaigning and winning a presidency, I think we were more in shock at the audacity than wondering how this happened.
Who knew that there was a first-world democratic country that welcomed the idea of a self-involved sociopath to lead them anywhere. It seems they were drawn by the promise of putting a wrench in a political system that no longer spoke for its people. The intention was honest, but the choice of a tool (in more ways than one) was lacking. People wanted a quick fix, and Trump is the perfect salesman with that pitch, that will actually take years, if not decades to address.
I heard a comment that a change towards progressive policy isn't led by the top. Real monumental change starts at the bottom.
So in a way, Trump did serve his country by toppling the house of cards quick, but painful. Divisive views are no longer disagreements, they have instead built walls to hide behind. The light can now shine on what is broken, and give us a chance to either build it back as it was, or embrace the cracks and fill them with something better.
I am so tired of hearing his name. Not once in six years has his name been associated with anything good that wasn’t in his own self interests. And don't even get me started on the whole 'alternative facts' creation story. I think we can all have alternative perceptions and views of the same facts. But facts are the building blocks of civil discourse.
We need to value and respect truth. It’s how history is our way of looking backwards to see 20/20. Oh my god, I think I just came up with another metaphor for this year! 2020 could be a culmination of our history as a whole. In a way, scientists and philosophers have tried to lead us in directions by sighting outcomes based on the scientific process and the study of human nature. The dominoes have been in place for years, and it took one egotistical man to bring them all down.
I am a glass half full person. I always have and I always will be. So I am not saying this lightly. Trump has given us a gift.
The gift of outcomes from choices made to serve self-interests at the expense of someone else. Those who grow our food have been pushed down instead of lifted up. People who serve others are seen as an expense. And a natural world that has been raped of its resources so a select few can dangle their chequebooks to charities to justify their place in the world.
I need to make a note, that my pontificating is coming from a privileged place. I am a middle class white woman who was born in one of the safest countries in the world. I have had struggles, and none of them compare to real challenges an immigrant, person of colour, homeless, or person responsible for the livelihood of others.
But what I do have is an open heart because I was raised by parents who struggled as well as celebrated the little things. I was raised to be happy and do good, but never at the expense of someone else. I would earn my way. My dad always said that "You pay the piper in the in the end." And it is this lesson that I'd like to share.
Any good fortune we have is never done alone. Yes, hard work is important, but in order to shelter, nourish, and grow, we need to be part of something. Even stranded on an island alone, survival depends on an education and intelligence from those who raised you. Food and water is supplied by the world around you. And the love of people have given you the self awareness that you are valued and worthy of living to another day.
I started writing this on a quiet Sunday morning to get it all out of my head. It’s the first real snowstorm Calgary has had this winter and it feels like a good day to snuggle up inside and process what has been and how we choose to react to the upcoming challenges and struggles. Whose voices can you lift up so they are heard?
