PERSPECTIVE – Healing the Wounded

My grandson sent me a text the morning of November 5^th: “All my love to you today, Nonna. Take good care of yourself.” That’s what we all need to do, but it’s difficult, isn’t it?

I ask: how many more young women will die from an abortion ban; how accelerated will climate change become; what will our $ be worth; how will we obtain healthcare we can afford; how many countries will Putin take over; what will happen to our schools, students, and teachers???

And so many more as I believe our democracy erodes, as Project 2025 and Trump have so clearly promised. What I will never understand is how so many of my fellow citizens accepted all of this and from a convicted felon, con man (the only business he was ever good at was as a nasty authoritarian boss on a so-called reality TV show; remember he inherited his wealth and had 6 bankruptcies-I never could see how that made him a successful businessman) racist, misogynist, pathological liar and narcissist, hero-worshipper of even more nasty fascist and communist leaders. STOP! We already know this and more. It does no good to play the same record. So, first, we’re going to stop repeating all of this. We know it, that’s enough.

This is serious grief and a huge gut punch to have lost so badly. Grief does not disappear, so, second, care for yourself, as my grandson suggested. Cry, go to bed for a day or 2, escape all responsibilities and read an escapist novel, just sit and watch the snow or rain or wind in the trees, run or climb a mountain. Do whatever it takes and however long it takes to get yourself on an even keel. For some it may be a day; for others, a couple of weeks. Grief has a habit of sinking, then popping up again at odd moments. Just be aware of that.

Third, re-engage with whatever political activist group you were involved in previously or another one that may be more suited to you now. You might consider an intergenerational one or one focused on one issue that impacts you personally. A resource of diverse politically liberal organizations, (by liberal, I mean in support of the framework of the Constitution, the rule of law, the separation of church and state, the Bill of Rights, voting rights, and the democratic foundations of our Republic) can be found in the organizational membership of the Alliance for Justice (AFJ) https://afj.org/membership/.

Many of us need to better understand the society in which we live. It’s more deeply racist and sexist than I wanted to believe. Such “ists” result from the environment in which one was raised, personal experience, and a fear of what impact that “Other” can have on one’s life, realistic or not. It doesn’t help when the leader you’ve put your trust in amplifies those prejudices. Another issue is the lack of basic knowledge among citizens of how and where to get reliable, i.e., truthful, fact-based, information. We know the present times are full of mis- and disinformation. We get warned about it and how to tell it when we see or hear it, but, obviously, that didn’t take. Nor do many understand basic civics. Why should it matter if the Supreme Court is in Trump’s pocket if you don’t appreciate the importance of the separation of powers on which our government is built, their roles, and the checks and balances involved?

Within your group, as objectively as possible, analyze what happened from the perspective of that group’s interests, develop a revised mission and a doable action plan. The focus now has to be on the mid-terms because informed voting is what it’s all about to bring about change at this point. Renew yourself, regroup, become focused and reactivated, and get to work.

There are many articles now specifically addressing those of us who were shattered by this election. Here are a few.

“The Guardian,” ‘It’s OK to feel despair at Trump’s victory. The important thing is not to give up’ Polly Toynbee, https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/nov/07/trump-victory-despair-politics-fight

Excerpt, but please use the link to read the entire op-ed:  “There is no escaping the danger of Trumpism, only escapism. The unexamined life is not worth living, said Socrates, and that applies equally to the unexamined society in which we live. And when you do examine it, action is required. Each time, pick yourself up, dust yourself off and start all over again confronting the forces of conservatism. The more vicious they become now, the greater the duty to resist. ‘Never give up,’ said the vanquished and exhausted Kamala Harris.”

“The Atlantic Daily,” ‘Democracy Is Not Over’ Tom Nichols, https://www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/archive/2024/11/trump-victory-democracy/680549/

An excerpt, but please use the link to read the entire article: “The kinds of actions that will stop Trump from destroying America in 2025 are the same ones that stopped many of his plans the first time around. They are not flashy, and they will require sustained attention, because the next battles for democracy will be fought by lawyers and legislators, in Washington and in every state capitol. They will be fought by citizens banding together in associations and movements to rouse others from the sleepwalk that has led America into this moment.…You have every right to be appalled, saddened, shocked, and frightened. Soon, however, you should dust yourself off, square your shoulders, and take a deep breath. Americans who care about democracy have work to do.”

“Time100 Voices,” ‘Ideas’ Sen. Elizabeth Warren https://time.com/collection/time100-voices/7173801/elizabeth-warren-democrats-plan-after-2024-election/

An excerpt, but, again, please read entire article. “…we have two tasks ahead. First, try to learn from what happened. And then, make a plan….First, fight every fight in Congress. Remember Republicans’ attempts to repeal the Affordable Care Act? Democrats did not have the votes to stop the repeal. Nevertheless, we fought on. Patients kept up a relentless rotation of meetings in Congress, activists in wheelchairs performed civil disobedience, and lawmakers used every tactic possible—late night speeches, forums highlighting patient stories, committee reports, and procedural tactics—to draw attention to the Republican repeal effort. This sustained resistance ultimately shifted the politics of health care repeal. The final vote was a squeaker, but Republicans lost and the ACA survived.”

CBS News, Health Watch, https://www.cbsnews.com/news/post-election-emotions-expert-tips-resources-mental-health/

Use the link for the entire clip. Acknowledging that there is a mental health element in this election and the importance associated with it, CBS ran the above-mentioned clip. One of the experts interviewed was Chaitali Sinha, psychologist and chief clinical research and development officer at mental health app Wysa. Some of her recommendations include: “Engaging in self-care activities, such as spending time outdoors, exercising or connecting with supportive friends can offer relief and a break from the stress. Grounding techniques like deep breathing, journaling or simply naming your emotions to help process them can also be helpful.”

Good luck and I’ll see you out there again.