So, Trump Won — Now, What the Fuck Do We do?
The unthinkable happened. Now, what do we do?
I’m conflicted.
Two voices are whispering inside my head.
The first voice tells me to start kicking ass. Now, it’s “payback time.” We’d be perfectly justified in taking our revenge on the political Right for behaving like deranged psychopaths over the past eight years, in short, giving them a bitter taste of their own medicine for the despicable way they’ve treated President Obama, a wise and good man.
From day one in 2009, the Right refused to do its job and govern. They began by questioning the president’s legitimacy. They’ve claimed he’s a Muslim. They accused him of being a Marxist. They knowingly invented falsehoods and spread lies about him. They’ve opposed every major policy he’s proposed since taking office. And today, president-elect Donald Trump and the rabid Right have the audacity to request that we curtsy and unite as one nation behind the new leader?
Two words immediately come to mind: Not happening.
Actually, the first two words that popped into my head were, “Fuck you.” But, I’m trying to be nice.
The other voice is a faint whisper. It calmly reminds me that it’s our nature as people of compassion to be better than our surroundings. To change something, one must remain civil and reject our most primordial instincts.
Indeed, I do ache for the opportunity to rise above the repugnant tactics used (successfully) by our opponents. I long for what’s become a bygone era of American politics when discussing alternative points of view was civil, and often even constructive for both parties. I want desperately to be part of a new national dialogue on the major issues of our time. I seriously want to listen to many of those with whom I strongly disagree, but still might learn something from when we engage in mindful thought. While the Right never gave President Obama this same courtesy, not on any level, not once, I do hold myself and ourselves on the Left to a much higher standard of conduct than those misguided by fear, ignorance, and even hate.
In short, I do not want to act like them, because to do so is to become them. Such would be our own downfall.
So, which voice should we listen to and follow? Which is the optimal approach for the future of our movement and the direction of the country? Bold obstructionism versus calm and constructive engagement? That’s the question we Liberals should be asking ourselves, right now.
I suspect most readers will agree that civility is usually the better of two choices. While Donald Trump has not yet earned my trust, nor my confidence, he was indeed elected. He might not merit my respect, but the office he holds does. We must somehow learn to deal with reality.
As Liberals, it’s our nature to compromise in order to resolve conflicts. As proponents of government being a force for good both in society and the world, that’s an essential component of being progressive. We must listen. We must try to learn. And, we must compromise when given the opportunity to make some advances where we can.
That said, it’s not just difficult, but IMPOSSIBLE to compromise on some guiding principles. I’m talking about protecting the rights of women and the right to chose, which is now in serious jeopardy with three potential Supreme Court appointments by President Trump. I’m talking about not only tolerating, but embracing racial and cultural diversity and even differences as a healthy thing. I’m talking about making sure sick people aren’t dying in the streets because they’ve lost their access to health care, given the president-elect’s threat to overturn the Obamacare. I’m talking about standing up tall to warmongers who profit from a ceaseless string of international conflicts from which there appears to be no exit. I’m talking about fighting against the big banks and crony corporatism, which wield way too much power and seek to enslave us all to debt. I’m talking about acknowledging that climate change is real and a danger to the planet. I’m talking about standing up for the rights of those who cannot stand on their own, and whose voices are faint echoes, desperate cries for justice in the night sky. These issues must always be non-negotiable.
So, as we try and take our first baby steps following being knocked to the ground and attempt to move ahead, I expect to continuously be guided by these two opposing voices. One voice requires me to fiercely defend myself and my compatriots against what we perceive to be a serious threat to our future. The other voice which reminds me to always try and listen, and attempt to deal with concepts which I may find objectionable, but which merit consideration.
We can indeed be better people than the wicked who proceeded us and poisoned the political path towards progress. There will come times for fights and times for compromise. In order to know which is which, there must be time for discussion.
I suspect many of you out there are also struggling with this, hearing different voices of guidance. What path will you choose? What’s next?
lol – Get back to us when you figure out all these voices Nolan. – It appears too many of said voices lean hard to “not happening..” and “These issues must always be non-negotiable.”
Wow! Way to respect fellow humans. lol
P.S. Love ya Bro.. bahh.. Obama Care is Crap – so.. there’s that.
its so much Crap that Trump keeping 2 parts of it ALREADY
you are Crap, we can smell your kind all the way to the KKK rally
We get ready in 2 years to election 4 till new president– trump will not suceed –he has no talent that is needed –they wll destroy economy
ummmm. The man has no talents? *sigh*
like im going to waste time w adjectives? I thought you were not so stupid that you would understand political talents on legislation – I was wrong.
Nolan,
I’ve been reading your comments since the outcome of the election became clear. Agree with some of your thoughts, disagree with others. It’s the beauty of living in a democracy.
I’m a registered Independent. I voted third party because I believe, generally speaking, that more choices are always better than fewer. And because, in this particular election, the major parties presented candidates that didn’t meet the minimum standard of decency I think the presidency deserves. Many infer that as a “false equivalency” between the candidates. It is no such thing. It is merely holding all candidates, regardless of party, to a single, universal standard.
There has been quite a bit of venom directed at folks like me since Tuesday. People claim that we third-party voters are responsible for the outcome. I couldn’t disagree more strongly. Those Democrats who are disgusted with Trump’s election should, in my mind, think very hard about who they chose to support during the primaries and the (now) very real implications of said support. Had the party nominated almost anyone other than Clinton, I would have voted Democrat without a second thought. With Trump on the other side, the stakes were that high. But Democrats did nominate Clinton. (With some help from the DNC, which put its thumbs on the scale with more than a wee bit of force.)
I won’t run through all the baggage Clinton brought to the election — we’ve all heard it a million times before. I will point out, however, that she has always been polarizing and unpopular, even with many members of her own party. Just as I can’t understand why Republican primary voters would choose Trump — who, by any objective standard should have been knocked out early in the process — nor can I understand why Democratic primary voters stood behind Clinton. She enabled Trump, a despicable human being, to turn Democratic strongholds red. The precinct-by-precinct breakdowns reveal just how unpopular she is among Democrats in key geographic areas. Liberals/progressives didn’t turn out for her in critical cities and towns because she didn’t inspire them. That fact, more than any other, enabled Trump to cross the finish line first.
For any non-Trump supporter, there is plenty of blame to go around. By and large, this was a season of gross journalistic negligence. It was a time of anger overcoming reason. But it was also a time when both major parties (via their voters) put forth the absolute worst there was to offer.
Just my two cents. It’s nice to know that, in our society, you have the luxury of agreeing or telling me to “fuck off.” As an American, I will happily accept either response.
Ricardo
NOLAN REPLIES:
Thank you for writing, Ricardo. For the record, I am NOT one of those who blames third-party voters for the disastrous election results. To the contrary, third-party voters are almost always creative thinkers who understand (as I do) that the two-party system isn’t just broken. It’s corrupt and undemocratic. You have my admiration and respect for voting your conscious. I might have done the same, but didn’t care for the alternatives who were running. I am not one of those who is critical of your decision. Let us hope that in future election, we’ll see many MILLIONS more of you, so we can do away with the cancer that is both Republicans and Democrats.
— ND
Nolan – “cancer” will never disappear. A fools errand.
1 once you spouted stupdity we can ignore your crafted comments. As “Democrats who are disgusted with Trump’s election should, in my mind, think very hard about who they chose to support during the primaries”
I supported Sanders – so how can I think about who I chose to support since you wanted me not to chose CLinton”
sick and tired of dumbass wordsmiths – oh and as one involved in party politics for 40 years who knows 3rd party did not affect any electoral vote I would like to know where you found these fictional claimants and who they are?