Election night 2016 has come and gone. Similar to a great number of people, I was stunned when Donald Trump became the President-Elect. Since election night, I have gone through the various stages of mourning. I'm sure some of you are quick to mock me, however, take the advice that a number of your compatriots are giving my fellow electorate; give me a chance...to explain my mindset.
Despite the efforts of denial and indifference by many, the future president has made, heinous, hurtful, and dangerous comments and observations. These cannot be forgotten and brushed away; nor is it easy for me to reconcile. His actions have emboldened a portion of the country that no longer feels bound by humanity nor are they afraid to expressly showcase their bigotry, misogyny, and blatant hatred for a great majority of their fellow citizens and more. Rather than continuing to focus on what I and many people feel about the President-Elect, let me spell out what concerns me.
Normalization of Racism, Xenophobia, Homophobia, and Sexism
"The United States of America has been besieged by a plague; 'political correctness'." This was one of the common sentiments throughout the next president's campaign. Many of his supporters believe that their freedom of speech has been stifled. They want to be able to freely express their disgust and distaste with multi-ethnic families, demonize people of different ethnicity, religions, citizenship, and sexual identity. As a father with multi-ethnic children, I am worried about how they will be treated and targeted by bigoted peers and faculty. I have family, friends and colleagues who are Mexican, from countries in Central and South America, LGBTQ, Muslim, Jewish, Hindu, Atheist, Immigrants-legal and otherwise. I am deeply concerned at the blank check these eugenic enthusiasts believe they've been given due to the dystopian rhetoric of their noncommittal puppet master. I fear that violence and torment of people who have been othered will increase and become commonplace and therefore normal.
"The United States of America has been besieged by a plague; 'political correctness'." This was one of the common sentiments throughout the next president's campaign. Many of his supporters believe that their freedom of speech has been stifled. They want to be able to freely express their disgust and distaste with multi-ethnic families, demonize people of different ethnicity, religions, citizenship, and sexual identity. As a father with multi-ethnic children, I am worried about how they will be treated and targeted by bigoted peers and faculty. I have family, friends and colleagues who are Mexican, from countries in Central and South America, LGBTQ, Muslim, Jewish, Hindu, Atheist, Immigrants-legal and otherwise. I am deeply concerned at the blank check these eugenic enthusiasts believe they've been given due to the dystopian rhetoric of their noncommittal puppet master. I fear that violence and torment of people who have been othered will increase and become commonplace and therefore normal.
Rogue Law Enforcement
As a black man in the U.S., this is a very real concern. Given that Rudy Giuliani will be part of the new administration, his recommendations will carry weight regardless of his role. During his tenure as mayor of New York, the NYPD had many instances of police brutality, excessive force, breach of constitutional rights and spurious charges. My fear is that officers will no longer be required to wear body cameras and officers with racist and xenophobic views will be emboldened to act out through no fear of reprisal or accountability.
As a black man in the U.S., this is a very real concern. Given that Rudy Giuliani will be part of the new administration, his recommendations will carry weight regardless of his role. During his tenure as mayor of New York, the NYPD had many instances of police brutality, excessive force, breach of constitutional rights and spurious charges. My fear is that officers will no longer be required to wear body cameras and officers with racist and xenophobic views will be emboldened to act out through no fear of reprisal or accountability.
Rollback of Roe v. Wade
Honestly, I don't believe I should do anything than automatically and emphatically support a woman's right to choose what she believes is her best option relative to her values, and health; because, you know, I'm a man. I'll never become pregnant, have the ability to carry a child, or give birth; so my only thoughts and actions should be supportive ones. That notwithstanding, this law is in jeopardy. If it is repealed or if supplementary laws are passed to weaken it, a dangerous precedent will be set, causing an inevitable cascading domino effect. Birth control could become harder to attain, sex education would only focus on abstinence rather than exploring all healthy available options, and rape culture would be exponentially exacerbated.
Honestly, I don't believe I should do anything than automatically and emphatically support a woman's right to choose what she believes is her best option relative to her values, and health; because, you know, I'm a man. I'll never become pregnant, have the ability to carry a child, or give birth; so my only thoughts and actions should be supportive ones. That notwithstanding, this law is in jeopardy. If it is repealed or if supplementary laws are passed to weaken it, a dangerous precedent will be set, causing an inevitable cascading domino effect. Birth control could become harder to attain, sex education would only focus on abstinence rather than exploring all healthy available options, and rape culture would be exponentially exacerbated.
White Nationalism, Separatism, and Isolationism
Pride in your country, or solidarity with a particular group of people is not wrong. The ethos becomes dangerous when people leverage that into a platform of hate and ethnic/ideological homogeneity. Propagating a view where white men are losing their identity, country, freedoms, and divine destiny creates a falsehood that leads to those who have adopted the ideology into a state of survival at all costs. Bolstered by their irrational and fabricated fear, I believe that many in this faction will call to withdraw from the global community and enact laws that further strip the rights of non white men. We cannot move toward a viewpoint and policy that supports isolating the U.S. from the global community; shirking its obligation as a global citizen in the hopes of fulfilling the false hope of American white nationalism.
Erosion of Environment Preservation
Climate change is real. As global citizens, it is our responsibility to take care of our planet the best way possible. The new administration may have someone who denies climate change as head of the EPA. Though Flint, MI was due to the actions of the Governor and his lackeys, having someone who denies climate change, and is in favor of deregulating environmental standards for corporations set policy is dangerous and too steep a price to pay. Lax regulations will lead to an increase of allegiance to an ethos of dollar over global citizenry which in turn grossly affects us - the non corporate citizen.
Erosion of Environment Preservation
Climate change is real. As global citizens, it is our responsibility to take care of our planet the best way possible. The new administration may have someone who denies climate change as head of the EPA. Though Flint, MI was due to the actions of the Governor and his lackeys, having someone who denies climate change, and is in favor of deregulating environmental standards for corporations set policy is dangerous and too steep a price to pay. Lax regulations will lead to an increase of allegiance to an ethos of dollar over global citizenry which in turn grossly affects us - the non corporate citizen.
Denouncement of Science
There has been an uptick in the derision of science and facts. Notably, a recording artist got into a heated debate with renowned astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson about the veracity of Earth not being flat. The recording artist believes the Earth is flat despite evidence to the contrary, physics, and facts from an astrophysicist! Unfortunately, this attitude toward science and those who use the scientific method professionally has been percolating for a while. Climate change deniers with their snowball in Congress antics or people who refuse to vaccinate their children pose a major risk to society. They equate science to government intervention, and therefore make dangerous decisions based on that belief. The soon to be President was dismissive of facts and protocols he didn't agree with and I believe many of the people who voted for him share a similar sentiment.
An Increase of Intellectual Snobbery
A very good friend - who shares many of my views - once called me an intellectual snob. The observation still brings a smile to my face because I recognize what she meant. Rather than using my knowledge and acumen as a tool, I was using them as weapons. My patience pool was tepid at best and nonexistent at worst for people who refused to elaborate on their viewpoints, failed to acknowledge mine, or refused to engage in a healthy discussion altogether. I would passive aggressively express my disdain for these individuals because I was too caught up in being right and looking at issues on a macro (society/the world) level rather than a micro (individual) level. This is constant, but necessary work for me. I can't expect to change and uplift our society if I'm unwilling to understand the people who make up our society.
I have more concerns that I will undoubtedly write about; however, the main purpose of this piece is to give you insight on my point of view and also to spark conversation - meaningful conversation, debate, and an openness to hear other perspectives. In my view, the purpose of debate is not to convince or persuade your adversary to agree with you, but to offer up differing perspectives of a topic or issue so that we may truly enrich our knowledgebase and understanding of each other.
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