Since Donald Trump was deemed to be the president-elect on November 9, nothing has felt normal. I wore black to work on Wednesday morning and thought the Empire State Building should be shrouded in black. The only place that felt safe was work. Trademarks are neutral.
I got into bed that night and cried. A delayed reaction to the horror show I knew we’d face with Trump as president and the profound sadness at Hillary’s loss, and what it would mean to so many basic tenets that make the U.S. one of the best places to live in the world. Tenets like separation of church and state and due-process under the law. Shattered by — the reasons are too numerous — but the result is disaster.
I cried for everyone that wasn’t white. As my friend A said that if you’re a person of color you no longer have the luxury of feeling safe and secure with a proud racist as the president’s chief advisor. Trump’s choice is the equivalent of a kick in the face to every American. Trump basically said “Screw the 14th Amendment” and guaranteed equal protection under the law.
As A said, “I fear for me, my family and especially my nephew.”
I cried for women because the future president is committed to appointing judges that will opine that an individual has no right to make a choice with respect to their body.
If men bore children, and there was a law that said birth was the only option, better believe the right to choose would be guaranteed. I can’t imagine this righteous right-to- life movement forcing a man who is just about to start college to give it up or to force a man who barely has enough money to pay his rent and eat to have a baby. And yet the electoral college lop is sucking back to the time of illegal abortions. Wacko!
I cried for the 20,000,000 people who will wake up with no insurance.
I cried that 60+ million Americans voted for an ignoramus. Unqualified, duplicitous, sleazy, verbally ugly. The list goes on and on.
It is now a week on and nothing has changed. In fact it’s only gotten worse.
The Write Side of 59 
OUTSTANDING
“To be or no not to be, that is the question
Whether tis nobler to suffer……..
Well put Julie. I’m definitely in mourning and terrified about our basic civil rights and the future of countless immigrants, women, minorities. I’m still stunned that we elected a “repulsive demagogue” to lead our great country. And I’ve signed a petition to end the electoral college that cost Hillary the election even though she won the popular vote. It’s a shit show. Thanks for this post; it helps to connect with my friends who feel the same pain.
I agree that talking with people and sharing the anxiety helps. We cannot be complacent, but we must be smart how we keep the issues front and center.
From the other side of the sea, we still can’t quite believe it Julie. My heart aches for you, as well as feeling fear for all of us. How can so many people have voted for that man, has he the power of suggestion? Did he put so many people in a trance somehow? Its a crazy, crazy world.
Wendy, Is it possible for you to watch Last Week with John Oliver either by streaming or You Tube? He’s brilliantly incisive and comedic in trying to explain the mess. And really talking with people helps so much.
I agree with your sentiments, but I think there is little chance Roe will be reversed. But even if it is, all that would do is return us to 1973 when abortion was legal in New York. The end result would be that abortion would be legal in the blue states and illegal in the red states. That’s not a good thing, but it’s also not a disaster.
How about doing something to encourage a positive outlook rather than whining about an outcome not to one’s liking?
I appreciate your post because it helps to normalize my feelings. It’s more painful to be in a place where most people are happy that Trump won. It’s not as bad in Ann Arbor but not like New York City where you are essentially surrounded by people who can mourn with you and help you get through the worst days.
Mutual feelings felt. A well written piece. A week went by and the feelings remain.
I joked with my family that when the election was over, I would need a full-time job to replace all the energy and effort I had put into educating myself against untruth and bigotry. Here we are and I’m still at it with no end in sight. I live in Ohio, ground-zero for presidential support and adulation. Thank you for your post, Julie, to keep us all connected.
Thank you Janice for writing. I do think there is some comfort in knowing and hearing there are other voices out there that are feeling the same way. Scared, worried, etc. and it seems each day his choices for his advisors just continue to confirm the concerns and the need to stay engaged. We can’t be lulled into accepting the normalization of extremism. ~Julie