Yesterday we got our asses handed to us on a plate.
I’m used to that. I’ve voted for the losing presidential candidate two thirds of the time. I’ve been a pinko commie panty waste libtard my whole life. You think it’s bad now? The night after Lincoln spoke at a rally here in Carmi for William Henry Harrison, a fan of his opponent was tarred and feathered on Main Street, almost to the point of death.
Biden set us on a bad course, talking about democracy being in danger. You don’t win when your main message is to fear each other. Because the argument works both ways. I moaned when I heard Harris’ campaign slogan … when we fight, we win. Who are we fighting? Our friends, family and neighbors. When we fight amongst ourselves, no matter who wins, we lose.
And before someone chimes in with “well Trump started it,” here’s a thought. Just because Trump did it doesn’t make it right. We should never intentionally stoke fears about each other, simply because someone believes, lives or loves differently than you do.
We fought, Democracy went without a hitch and we lost. You can’t sugar coat that.
Republicans voted on the economy, and as someone wrote today, “Democrats seem to believe that people care more about the opinions of Taylor Swift and Beyonce than the average person being able to afford groceries.” Being inclusive doesn’t just apply to gays, trans and other minorities. Being inclusive also applies to reaching out and helping the majority of Americans who currently don’t believe as we do. It’s not their fault they were a lot of them were born poor, white and sometimes, even male.
What I remember most about this cycle was the memes saying how a bear is safer for a woman than my race and gender. When you ostracize one of the largest voting blocs, you damned well better have all the others sewed up.
We backslid in almost every demographic, including women and minorities, despite having a minority female as a candidate. Following Trump’s divisive tone didn’t work.
Hopefully this is something people will think of when talking about our fellow Americans over the next four years. When Democrats ruthlessly mocked Trump we cemented his support among his base. Considering where he stood four years ago, can we really blame anyone for yesterday besides ourselves?
Trump’s message resonated with the richest of us as well as the poorest of us. More women, blacks, Hispanics and Asians voted for him this time than ever before. I might not agree with it, but bitching about it doesn’t do any good. You wanna win elections? Become better communicators, to all people.
I still can’t understand how a Christian could vote for him, nor a parent who wants to teach their children right from wrong. But my idea of right and wrong, and what a Christian is, obviously differs from mainstream America. I can live with that.
If you want to change the world, you’re not going to do it by dividing each other. You’re not going to do it by closing your ears and hearts to those who feel the system is passing them by. You have to convince people of the value of your beliefs, of your ideas and your solutions. We seem to think people should get that by osmosis, but that’s not the American way.
When I look at our country the way it was when I was born, and compare it to now, I see massive change for the better. More rights and opportunities for nearly everyone, minorities included. It’s not perfect, but we’re human. There is no perfection amongst our kind.
If I hope Trump fails, I’m no different than him and the Republicans who wanted Biden to fail. That would mean I care more about being right than I care about humanity. I hope Trump finds a way to bring people together and improve not just our country, but the world.
Remember, in his heart, Trump is a social liberal who wants nothing as much as to be loved, and seen as the Santa who saved America. Maybe if we remember the golden rule, it’ll rub off on him as well.
And if not? Well that’s why Governor Pritzker gave us legal weed.