As a Canadian, I have to say we managed finally to rid ourselves of a divisive ‘conservative’ rigid judgmental Prime Minister a year ago after 8 challenging years… But it took a lot of work from the ground up. And sometimes, for some, the fatigue of constantly needing to ‘rise up’ can be quite overwhelming. If we all keep focused on ‘what can I do today to help another…’ a positive change can happen. In the meantime, I’ve wiped my own tears away and deep breathed my disgust away, and shored up my compassion for all. All. Hard.
Thank you for posting Maya Angelou today. You also – are very inspiring.
Actually, more than ONE old white-guy (and ex-Hoosier farm boy). But then I migrated to the left coast!! Nice poem. Look forward to meeting you next Spring in Bend OR.
Thank you for this, Judy. I agree. My daughter and I talked this morning about looking at what we can do with others to preserve the path to democracy. I think we’ll manage to get through the next four years with the hope it won’t be longer than that. What worries us more is what it means for the future beyond that, when my grandchildren will be trying to establish lives and careers and making decisions that will affect their children. Many members of my family fall into one of those “categories” Trump has often referred to. What will their futures be?
Through tear filled eyes I thank you for posting Maya Angelou’s beautiful poem. But today I cry. Today I keep saying ‘breath’ for goodness sake! Tomorrow I rise.
Thank you, Judy for this post. I’ve been so depressed all morning I’ve just been looking for ways to keep my mind on something else.
From another old white guy.
Thank you Judy! Today has been difficult on many levels. I sat with hubby out in the garage earlier and cried my eyes out. He’s usually pretty low-key about most things, but this has impacted him deeply, too. We’re in our late 60s and never have felt so uncertain. But we need words like Ms. Angelou’s (and yours) to help keep things in perspective.
Yes, Maya Angelou was called for on this day, and doubtless on many in the future. Those who eschew hatred and misunderstanding will continue to do so. Many hope for not too numerous occasions for gritting teeth and finding a path through the fog.
Thank you for the inspiring poem by Angelou. I am with those others that feel a time of mourning must come before I can feel ready to move forward. Today I mourn for myself and my country and for the world. I feel like a woman without a country and am afraid for so many of us who depend on the ACA, Medicare, Social Security and other government assistance programs. I am afraid of the hatred and violence that has been unleashed. And I am afraid for our children and the decisions made by a Court that will likely still be there when I am not. And for the Earth itself, which has provided for life and sustenance.
The poem by Maya Angelou is a comfort. As I stood in line to vote, the last stanza of Longfellow’s poem, “Paul Revere’s Ride” went through my head. I was hoping that enough people would realize that this was “the hour of darkness and peril and need.” Apparently, not enough people “wakened and listened to hear.”
Cindy
A retired teacher who taught children in several of those “categories” Trump has referred to.
Just because conservative Americans finally stood up for their beliefs doesn’t mean we want to oppress anyone. We want to give people the tools and will to take charge of their lives and stop depending on the government to look after them.
I will say to you what I have said to all Trump voters today: Your side gets your chance to show us about its commitment to governing well. Do it with dignity and justice and peace. Prove our fears unfounded. Please.
Thanks for your dignity, Judy. I could not have managed it.
Judy G. Russell
on November 9, 2016 at 6:18 pm
We are all struggling to make sense of the whole situation — but we can try to bring dignity and class to the equation no matter what.
G
on November 9, 2016 at 9:28 pm
Forgive me, Blanche, but the things Mr. Trump and his supporters have said and done during the campaign shout so loudly that they drown out any expressions of conciliation and good will he, and they, are now trying to offer. No, a few nice words are not enough to undo the damage done by the way he, and they, have behaved themselves to date. They are going to have to prove themselves by their actions before I will be able to have any confidence whatever in their expressions of good will. Meanwhile, I can’t help feeling there may no longer be any place for me in this country that has been the beloved home of at least a dozen generations of my family, and that is devastating.
Carolyn Lea
on November 11, 2016 at 12:21 pm
G- I feel the same. Wouldn’t it be a strange thing if we flee the country to return to the homelands of our ancestors for many of the very same reasons they came to America? I am still feeling unsure if I am in flee or fight mode. But I very much thank Judy for her hope and desire to inspire.
Louise K.
on November 9, 2016 at 11:17 pm
I’m sorry you all are so depressed and discouraged. I’m discouraged also because of your implications that Trump voters are ignorant, divisive, and inferior. Hillary called some of us “deplorable”, and I’m sure most of you agree with her.
Give Trump and Pence a chance. At least they don’t owe anything to big-bank lobbyists and foreign governments, like Hillary likely does. Now I will unsubscribe myself from this blog, as I suddenly don’t feel welcome here.
I gather you only feel welcome somewhere where everyone agrees with you. That’s truly unfortunate, but your choice.
Vernon Threlkeld
on November 11, 2016 at 2:17 pm
As a progressive, I still have some empathy for Blanche feeling as she did (and she thinks like some of my relatives do, still nice people!). Also, I agree that HRC’s “deplorables” comment was not politically smart. But it would be good if Blanche and others would compare that to the avalanche of hatred coming directly from Trump for many months, belittling a handicapped reporter, name-calling like a bullying elementary kid, on and on. In any event, I’m not leaving — I’ll be watching and fighting the next four years!
Linda Johnson
on November 9, 2016 at 6:47 pm
Judy, a wonderful post and I agree with so many of the comments above. I was very depressed last night and this morning. People like you, and many of my friends, give me hope.
I couldn’t even write yesterday. Today is a beautiful sunny day, and Thanksgiving is on it’s way. What scares me to my core is that the people who voted against everything I believe in (or so it seemed to me) are people I know, people who are my friends and family and neighbors. But that is also what gives me a glimmer of hope. They are my friends and family and neighbors. And surely they won’t stand by to see our dearest ideals demolished?
Thank you, Judy. Most depressed I have felt ever after an election. Disappointed, sad, but yesterday just plain depressed. Turned off the tv and turned to genealogy. Broke through a brick wall thanks to the new info in the GRO indexes -that helped lift my spirits!
Thank you for this. I didn’t see it until today, but perhaps that is just as well. I likely could not have taken it in until today. As my sharp sadness begins to diminish, I realize I am called to more action and work. Because we are weary, we feel it is over. But, actually it is just beginning. We will rest and grieve and then we will begin again. Peace
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Thank you for this. I’ll rise, for certain, but first I need to lie down and pull the covers over my head for a bit.
We will survive. I’m certain of that although, at this moment, I’m not sure how.
Just to say there’s at least one old white guy on your side.
Together with my husband, that makes at least two of you.
As a Canadian, I have to say we managed finally to rid ourselves of a divisive ‘conservative’ rigid judgmental Prime Minister a year ago after 8 challenging years… But it took a lot of work from the ground up. And sometimes, for some, the fatigue of constantly needing to ‘rise up’ can be quite overwhelming. If we all keep focused on ‘what can I do today to help another…’ a positive change can happen. In the meantime, I’ve wiped my own tears away and deep breathed my disgust away, and shored up my compassion for all. All. Hard.
Thank you for posting Maya Angelou today. You also – are very inspiring.
Actually, more than ONE old white-guy (and ex-Hoosier farm boy). But then I migrated to the left coast!! Nice poem. Look forward to meeting you next Spring in Bend OR.
Thank you for this, Judy. I agree. My daughter and I talked this morning about looking at what we can do with others to preserve the path to democracy. I think we’ll manage to get through the next four years with the hope it won’t be longer than that. What worries us more is what it means for the future beyond that, when my grandchildren will be trying to establish lives and careers and making decisions that will affect their children. Many members of my family fall into one of those “categories” Trump has often referred to. What will their futures be?
An excellent quote to help us heal! Thanks!
AMEN!
Thank you, Judy. I needed that.
Through tear filled eyes I thank you for posting Maya Angelou’s beautiful poem. But today I cry. Today I keep saying ‘breath’ for goodness sake! Tomorrow I rise.
My thoughts exactly…thank you for this.
Thank you, Judy for this post. I’ve been so depressed all morning I’ve just been looking for ways to keep my mind on something else.
From another old white guy.
Thank you Judy! Today has been difficult on many levels. I sat with hubby out in the garage earlier and cried my eyes out. He’s usually pretty low-key about most things, but this has impacted him deeply, too. We’re in our late 60s and never have felt so uncertain. But we need words like Ms. Angelou’s (and yours) to help keep things in perspective.
Isn’t it sad that we have to…once again. I really, really thought most of this was behind us, on so many levels.
We hoped it was behind us. But obviously there’s a lot more work to be done. In our lifetimes, I hope…
Yes, Maya Angelou was called for on this day, and doubtless on many in the future. Those who eschew hatred and misunderstanding will continue to do so. Many hope for not too numerous occasions for gritting teeth and finding a path through the fog.
Thank you for the inspiring poem by Angelou. I am with those others that feel a time of mourning must come before I can feel ready to move forward. Today I mourn for myself and my country and for the world. I feel like a woman without a country and am afraid for so many of us who depend on the ACA, Medicare, Social Security and other government assistance programs. I am afraid of the hatred and violence that has been unleashed. And I am afraid for our children and the decisions made by a Court that will likely still be there when I am not. And for the Earth itself, which has provided for life and sustenance.
And mostly,I am afraid to find that so many people – many in my own family – share the values we have seen expressed during this election year and what Justice Souter referred to as the “erosion of civic knowledge.” See: http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/perils-of-eroded-civic-knowledge-forewarned-790540867791 (I highly recommend watching this video)
May we mourn and rise as we each feel ready.
A great piece that may help: from John Pavlovitz, Here’s Why We Grieve Today.
The poem by Maya Angelou is a comfort. As I stood in line to vote, the last stanza of Longfellow’s poem, “Paul Revere’s Ride” went through my head. I was hoping that enough people would realize that this was “the hour of darkness and peril and need.” Apparently, not enough people “wakened and listened to hear.”
Cindy
A retired teacher who taught children in several of those “categories” Trump has referred to.
Just because conservative Americans finally stood up for their beliefs doesn’t mean we want to oppress anyone. We want to give people the tools and will to take charge of their lives and stop depending on the government to look after them.
I will say to you what I have said to all Trump voters today: Your side gets your chance to show us about its commitment to governing well. Do it with dignity and justice and peace. Prove our fears unfounded. Please.
Thanks for your dignity, Judy. I could not have managed it.
We are all struggling to make sense of the whole situation — but we can try to bring dignity and class to the equation no matter what.
Forgive me, Blanche, but the things Mr. Trump and his supporters have said and done during the campaign shout so loudly that they drown out any expressions of conciliation and good will he, and they, are now trying to offer. No, a few nice words are not enough to undo the damage done by the way he, and they, have behaved themselves to date. They are going to have to prove themselves by their actions before I will be able to have any confidence whatever in their expressions of good will. Meanwhile, I can’t help feeling there may no longer be any place for me in this country that has been the beloved home of at least a dozen generations of my family, and that is devastating.
G- I feel the same. Wouldn’t it be a strange thing if we flee the country to return to the homelands of our ancestors for many of the very same reasons they came to America? I am still feeling unsure if I am in flee or fight mode. But I very much thank Judy for her hope and desire to inspire.
I’m sorry you all are so depressed and discouraged. I’m discouraged also because of your implications that Trump voters are ignorant, divisive, and inferior. Hillary called some of us “deplorable”, and I’m sure most of you agree with her.
Give Trump and Pence a chance. At least they don’t owe anything to big-bank lobbyists and foreign governments, like Hillary likely does. Now I will unsubscribe myself from this blog, as I suddenly don’t feel welcome here.
I gather you only feel welcome somewhere where everyone agrees with you. That’s truly unfortunate, but your choice.
As a progressive, I still have some empathy for Blanche feeling as she did (and she thinks like some of my relatives do, still nice people!). Also, I agree that HRC’s “deplorables” comment was not politically smart. But it would be good if Blanche and others would compare that to the avalanche of hatred coming directly from Trump for many months, belittling a handicapped reporter, name-calling like a bullying elementary kid, on and on. In any event, I’m not leaving — I’ll be watching and fighting the next four years!
Judy, a wonderful post and I agree with so many of the comments above. I was very depressed last night and this morning. People like you, and many of my friends, give me hope.
I couldn’t even write yesterday. Today is a beautiful sunny day, and Thanksgiving is on it’s way. What scares me to my core is that the people who voted against everything I believe in (or so it seemed to me) are people I know, people who are my friends and family and neighbors. But that is also what gives me a glimmer of hope. They are my friends and family and neighbors. And surely they won’t stand by to see our dearest ideals demolished?
Thank you, Judy. Most depressed I have felt ever after an election. Disappointed, sad, but yesterday just plain depressed. Turned off the tv and turned to genealogy. Broke through a brick wall thanks to the new info in the GRO indexes -that helped lift my spirits!
Paula
Thank you for this, Judy. My devastation has slowly morphed into a cautious optimism, not by the President-Elect (ugh), but by responses like yours and like that from my solidly “blue” state: http://sd24.senate.ca.gov/news/2016-11-09-joint-statement-california-legislative-leaders-result-presidential-election
Thank you for this. I didn’t see it until today, but perhaps that is just as well. I likely could not have taken it in until today. As my sharp sadness begins to diminish, I realize I am called to more action and work. Because we are weary, we feel it is over. But, actually it is just beginning. We will rest and grieve and then we will begin again. Peace