on hope, trauma, election

Divide and conquer. Divide and conquer. Don't give in!

Looking behind voter demographics, it was those who *didn't* turn out to vote that made the difference. Whether you voted T-Rump or not, it's okay to voice your concern over individual areas of policy - that's what the joy of living in a democracy supplies us: seeing past Hollywood polarities of good and evil and choosing to see the subtleties of life.

It will take a lot of humility - a character trait not generally treasured amongst the US populace - to welcome each other into those spaces. I hope we can take apart those barriers.

It also appears that white men turned out in droves, a hint at who feels the right to take hold of the country - though thankfully we have a diverse society, whether it was represented in this election or not. I've read and heard news that blames white women and Latinx voters for not turning out. [Question why we're not seeing headlines that blame the dominant voice called to account; fear?.] It's difficult filtering info from media outlets (including "liberal" media), but rest assured their aim is to divide us that they may have the capital on information.

From my short experience in exposing an abusive ex-lover who was hung up on control, the more you point the finger and say "It's your fault!" the more power you give to that other group, the more they take the energy you can sink into positive change. Anger and voicing critical dissent is called for & energising for those interested in resisting - but channelling it is the difficult but necessary thing and we need our awareness pointed into seeing what's happening in the moment.

I know a lot of people - like me - are triggered by this election, much like Tea Party folks were stirred up by the last one. But I am hoping for safe spaces in which to sit across the table from the Other and commune. And I am putting my energy into my art and work. In this way, we can defeat the system clearly meant to suppress all areas of society, y'all.

​Has consumerism been broken yet??