Why It Hurts

The dust is settling.  A collection of rationalizations are being developed.  Many believe that the lives they have known will continue largely unaltered.  Some even hope things will improve.

There are some of us, however, that have already been changed.  You see, we saw a light.  It was dim, but it was there.  The future we dreamed of was so close.  In 2008, I joined the Democratic party long enough to vote in the primary.  I was glad I did.  In 2016, I did so again.  The candidate I chose was not chosen by the party.  However, I gave my support to the Democratic party regardless.  The future would come slower, but it would come.

And then November 8th came...

I watched as it became more obvious that the election had been decided.  I watched as news organizations held off from "calling it".  I watched as 61,000,000 Americans voted for the past.  I watched as 61,000,000 Americans voted for failure.  I watched as 61,000,000 Americans voted for hate.  Meanwhile, 90,000,000 Americans didn't care enough to even express an opinion.

And now, I no longer care.  I had held on to hope.  I had believed in my fellow humans.  That belief had been tested again and again, but it had remained.  It has shattered.

I may be wrong about what the next few years will bring.  I do not believe I am.  I believe history has given us quite enough examples to make a projection.  I will not throw around cliches or comparisons.  If the parallels aren't clear to someone, it is because they are deluding themselves.  It can happen here.  It can happen now. 

I will not "hope for the best" or "see what happens".  Instead, I will give people exactly what they have asked for.