Post-Election Depression

What the Hell Do We Do Now?

As I’m writing this, it’s exactly one week since the election. I’ve spent this past week trying to reconcile the results and what it means for me, my friends, the nation, and the world.

I avoided the news and all social media after the election because I was so exhausted, disappointed, and angry. After nearly a decade of Trump’s nasty, violent rhetoric, I had hoped that, after losing this election, he’d either be imprisoned for his crimes or fade away into a dementia-induced retirement. Or maybe he’d flee to Russia to avoid jailtime. One can hope.

America had the chance to make history. And it did, just not the history we were hoping for. Although, I guess that’s not entirely true, is it? Certainly, my friends and (most of) my family wanted to see the first female president and wanted nothing to do with Trump. We wanted a president who cared about ALL Americans, who wasn’t going to try to force Christian values (values he doesn’t actually believe in or practice) onto the rest of us. Because contrary to what Christians will tell you, America is NOT a Christian nation. It is a nation where everyone should be free to practice whatever religion they choose.

But considering Trump won both the electoral college and the popular vote, by a lot, it is apparently the history the majority of Americans want. Which is what makes me so angry. And heartbroken. Because Trump and the entire MAGA movement do not represent the America I was raised to believe in, so how is it possible that so many Americans have decided they’re okay with it?

This is a movement that screams “freedom for all” yet does everything they can to oppress everyone who isn’t straight, white, and Christian. Oh yeah, and male.

If you’re gay, you won’t be allowed to get married or adopt children. If you’re trans, you’ll be denied the healthcare you need. If you’re non-white, you’re either here illegally, or a terrorist, or “should report for slavery.” If you’re not Christian, you shouldn’t be allowed to practice your religion in school (that’s only for Christians, thanks). And if you’re not male, well, you’ve pretty much lost all right to your own body.

Christians flock to him like he’s the new messiah, Jesus returned to Earth, but he’s far from it. It’s literally impossible to be a good Christian and support Trump without being a total hypocrite. It simply can’t be done.

Trump’s own VP literally said he thinks people without children shouldn’t have as much right to vote as those with children. I’m sorry, what?

And no, I’m not saying the Democratic party is perfect, but at least they’re not trying to force people to live the way they decide, but rather how each one of us chooses. This is the fundamental core of America – that everyone is equal, that we all have the right to live our own life as we see fit. No one, not a president, pastor, governor, or teacher, should have the right to tell another human being how to live. Not in the “land of the free” anyway.

I’m still trying to figure out exactly why someone would vote for Trump in the first place. My guess is that most who did have no idea themselves, not really. I mean, was it in the hopes of a better economy? Because after Trump deports all of the “illegal” immigrants (which will cost billions), fires 75% of government employees (something he’s promised to do within his first 100 days), and raises tariffs on everything not made in America, our currently thriving economy and record-low unemployment rate will crumble. But hey, maybe those unemployed government workers can take to the farms, construction sites, kitchens, and other service industry jobs and fill the void those immigrants will leave in their absence.

They certainly didn’t vote for Trump because he’s a decent, honest person. He’s lied and cheated his whole life. They didn’t vote for him because of his morals. I doubt he even knows the definition of the word.

Already, his victory has once again emboldened men around the country to spew hateful, racist, misogynistic comments online and in person. Mass texts went out to black people to “report for slavery.” Men have been telling women they won’t have to worry about abortion so long as they “keep their legs closed.” Antisemitic attacks are also on the rise. People are walking around waving Nazi flags. In public. Losers like Nick Fuentes feel free to boast about how women will “never have control of their bodies” like some infantile chauvinist from his parent’s basement. This is the kind of America Trump seems perfectly okay with.

Trump has made a lot of promises, most of them frightening. He wants to be a dictator, quotes Hitler, admires maniacs like Putin, Xi, Netanyahu, and Kim Jong Un. He’s promised not only mass deportations and worksite raids, but also to prosecute his political enemies, the use of the military on US citizens, replacing government civil servants with loyalists, eliminating the Department of Education and the FBI, abortion surveillance, forced Christian study in public schools, the silencing of journalists…and the lists goes on. In short, everything a dictator would do.

And with the supreme court on his side granting him presidential immunity, and both the senate and house under Republican control, there won’t really be anyone left to stop him.

I know many of us feel betrayed by friends and family we thought were on our side. We feel as if we never truly knew them. The question is: what do we do now? A lot of people are talking about leaving the country, a thought my partner and I have entertained ourselves. Some want to stay and fight, although that feels almost impossible with the power Trump and the GOP will soon wield. And really, when so many Americans voted for this kind of person, what’s left to fight for?

Personally, I think he and his administration will do a lot of damage in the next four years, so much so that the America my generation was raised in may just be unrecognizable when it’s all over.

I wish I felt more hopeful. I wish I could be more positive for the future of America. I wish I could tell you it’ll be okay, that we’ll get through this. But I can’t.

What I can tell you is what we can do in this moment: take a breath, try to find comfort in your community, pay attention to what’s happening, find moments of joy and hold onto them,  stand up and protect those more vulnerable than you, create something, love unconditionally, resist, and most importantly, refuse to let them change who you are.