Why Electing Trump Was A Good Thing

There are, and will be, a multitude of articles about the shock of a Trump win. About what that says about our country. About the anxiety of not knowing what is around the corner. About the fear of people having a license to exercise their bigotry and other hatreds under the guise of eschewing political correctness. About the long term implications of a Supreme Court padded to potentially remove so many of the protections that took decades of sweat, blood, and tears to put in place.

Roe v Wade? Possibly gone. Millions of recently insured? Possibly tossed back into the cyclical pattern of overloading emergency rooms for basic health, or tossed into an early grave for anything more serious. Muslims, african americans, ‘gays’, illegal aliens, anything ‘Other’…living in fear and dampening any public display of the identity that makes them the amazing individuals they are so as to deflect any attention that might bring them harm.

All of these are incredibly meaningful, frightening, issues. I don’t seek to diminish them in any way. But here is what I know. We all too often become distracted by believing that those in authority are in control. That we must look to a leader and cry in despair at their actions when they don’t align with our views of ‘just’, ‘fair’, or ‘decent’.

But we have 3 choices as I see it in how we move forward. Two of which I am highly in favor of, one of which I find defeatist and destructive.

1. Slacktivism — We can pound our chests in social media in anger, in fear, in revulsion, but take little action. But this is simply a form of acceptance, a way of expressing ourselves that accomplishes nothing but to further deepen the divide that put someone you dislike so greatly into power. It is saying that you are powerless. That the choice has been made. That you must simply fight harder to retain that divide, to keep the fires stoked, and make another stand in four years.
2. Understanding — The half of the country that you so despise right now? You may not comprehend how they made the choice they did, but do you *really* believe that they are all racists? Bigots? Misogynists? Xenophobes? There are some for sure, but there are also quite a few people who voted for your candidate, or one of the 3rd parties, that think that vaccinations should be done away with. Who would put your children at risk of death because of their denial of science. The danger is not the people who you do not comprehend, the danger is that you cannot comprehend them. This is not some fringe minority group of voters, this is half of your country. Would you not find more success in finding your common ground, being decent yourself and reaching out a hand to say “I don’t understand, but I’d like to” vs. “You are a racist”? Which do you think will change hearts more? Allow you to make better points? Allow you to be heard vs. dismissed? Do you not think that the utter shock at the election outcome that rippled through this country is itself a sign of the problem? It’s easy to write people off and shove them into a demeaning category. It’s hard to realize that these people are your neighbors, your friends, your family and think that they are just as complex and nuanced in their decisions as you are. Whenever you are given two choices, one easy…one hard, the hard one is almost always the right choice.
3. Empowerment — At this moment, when so many are feeling despair at the choices their own country has made, I believe it is an opportunity. We have turned away from the community based engagement that used to be so prevalent. It is time to return to those roots. There are no laws, no government, no authority, that can keep a community from being a place you want to live. A place that embraces the ideals you hold dear. Outside of nuclear codes, there is nothing that can be ordained by an authority that can stop you and your community from being that beacon of light. Let them try. Community based policing vs. militarization. An environment friendly to entrepreneurs and small businesses. Overtly welcoming to people of all walks of life. The list goes on. No national guard is going to come and stop you. No laws on the books will be enforced against you. Authority is a mechanism of the people, by the people. You can give yours up and throw up your hands, or you can make your life, your neighbors life, your community, an example to the world of what we can be as a nation. You have not lost your ideals in this election, you have gained the responsibility for bringing them to life instead of relying on some authority you thought would bring them to life on your behalf. I dare say that many of those ‘deplorables’ would like to live in that world with you, and that this is your common ground.

With challenge comes opportunity. The only path forward is to close this ever-widening chasm that has created the situation we find ourselves in today. We must narrow that broad brush that we keep painting the other side with and realize that humans are complicated. But in all that complexity there is one guarantee, if you attack, a normal human will defend themseves. As you wake up today, you are only partially seeing the result of a vote in favor of a candidate. You are also seeing a large vote from a bloc of people defending themselves.

Let’s not repeat that, shall we? Let’s choose the hard path, and create the example of the world we want to live in. The barriers you feel are imaginary.

Much love to you all.

~Matt Ridings