Steven Lopez
I am surprised
but not surprised. At first I was angry. Hopeless. Frustrated. Filled with the
urge to cry or punch something or make a knee-jerk reactionary post about
the outcome of our election - but I didn’t. Perhaps more upsetting than the outcome
of the Presidency is the fact that Republicans control it all. The House, the
Senate and the Executive Branch. In my heart I hope Roe v. Wade and gay
marriage are not repealed. I hope immigrants are not deported in droves over
the next few years. Most importantly, I hope he does the right thing. On the
precipice of the dawn of this new America I remain cautiously optimistic that
things will not change drastically over the next four years. I say cautiously
because I awakened to what most of us thought would be a for sure win for one
candidate only to find that the opposite was true. I think therein lies the
problem - too many of us slept.
To those that say America was built on greatness: America was built on
great ideas (except slavery). Well, America was built on slavery so maybe not.
America was built by the descendants of immigrants who became the majority and
eventually destroyed anything that was not like them despite fleeing from that
same oppressive forces. America was built on war, death, slavery, manifest
destiny, unequal distribution of wealth, courage and conflict. Do not relish on
the statement of America’s “greatness”. This “greatness” was what the president
elect eluded throughout his campaign. What makes America great is the fact that
we can still express ourselves on social media. What makes America not great is
the fact that despite our hope and progressive ideals, capitalism and fear
still reign over this country’s ability to move forward. Another hard pill to
swallow is idea that, despite our efforts, our system is still based on an Electoral
College system that does not favor the vote of the populous - I think she still
would have lost even if the opposite were true.
To those that say “pray”: Keep praying. Pray harder? I’m not sure. As much
as I think it is beautiful that people have the right to pray as they please I
shutter at the thought that this concept is your only reaction to what has
transpired over the last 24 hours. Yes, pray! However, please also become more
active and more vocal in your communities and circles. Educate yourself and
others about what has happened, what is happening and what could happen.
To those that say it is fixed: Cool.
I get it. I was there once too. Social mechanisms do exist. I couldn’t apply to
a grad school program recently because a law was passed that mandates GRE
scores for School Based Leader Programs and I missed the deadline. That being
fact - I still look for ways around these laws and systems. The only thing that
is fixed is the fact that money has all-encompassing influences over our
political system and the mindset of those that have power.
To those that don’t know what to tell kids: Tell them you’re sorry. Tell
them that sometimes in life you can try your hardest and things still won’t
work out (unless you’re a rich or middle class white male from the Midwest or
South). Tell the kids that our actions individually are just as important as
our actions collectively. Tell them that they are a voting bloc. That they have
power and will have more power than we do right now. Tell them that the days of
the Good ‘Oh Boys are fading even though it does not feel like it.
TEACH THEM! Teach them about voting, about the Electoral College system,
about the Civil Rights movement, about the good and bad of America. Teach them
how to analyze, how to read things carefully, how to think for themselves.
Teach them that facts are important. Teach them that they have a voice and
their voice needs to be heard.
To those that feel disheartened about our beleaguered system/leader: Hold
steadfast in your beliefs and practice. Ratchet them up even more now. Don’t
let this take the steam out of your boiling teapot. Use this to drive you
further and motivate you to do more. Talk more about politics with friends,
family and coworkers, not necessarily in a combative sense but as a way of
better understanding each other so fear does not lead to this type of voting
trend ever again. Keep letting your kids and families know that all people
deserve the right to have a better life and live the life they choose (so long
as it does not hurt anyone else). Stand up to/against those that disrespect
women, people of color, immigrants, the LGBTQIAPK community, people who are
less fortunate than them and people overall. Be a role model and upstanding
citizen and let it be known.
To your colleagues at work that are smiling with glee or mourning: Smile
back. Let them know that you are affected but not broken.
Today is a day that you can either let your passion and vigor for being
an American citizen be ripped from your heart or a day where you can decide
that enough is enough and the majority will not dictate the future of this
country. How do we impact this dynamic? We can do it financially by purchasing
products from minority owned businesses or consuming less. We can do this by
giving back to our own communities, having conversations with or youth about
knowledge and life. We can do this by praising those that are doing the right
things and putting them at the forefront of everything that is media. We can do
this by not forgetting that we still have power and our power is great! Do not
fall victim to the machinations of the petty for they do not have our best
interests at heart. We may face a time that our parents or grandparents have
seen in the not so far off past, we may not, either way we must be prepared and
courageous enough to take on whatever lies ahead. Stay strong, stay sane and stay woke!
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