I vividly remember when George Bush won the election for a second
term. I was a senior in high school, and I really didn’t care. I wasn’t old enough to vote and I was never that
interested in politics, so what did it matter? I had calculus first that
morning, and as I looked around Mr. Degitz’s classroom, the devastation on so
many of my classmates’ faces was so confusing to me. Why were they so upset?
Life would go on like it always had, and come on, you’re basically children, how
do you even understand what’s going on?
Today, I totally and completely understand the devastation.
Today, I could not stop crying. It was this summer that I first became
emotional and began caring about politics. One warm day, Tyler, Coltrane, and I
planned to go for a bike ride along the Snake River. We were all sunscreened-up
and excited for our little adventure. Tyler mentioned Bernie’s dropping out so
briefly, I didn’t really register it at first. But then, the truth sunk in and
I thought about the reality of a Bernie-less election. I suddenly started
crying, which surprised me, and then I got sunscreen in my eyes, just to add to
the burn.
Like in high school, I still don’t really understand
politics, but I have come to really understand people. I am actually learning
how to read faces and body language to learn more about a person’s state of
health, but I’ve gained great insight into personality and character through
these careful observations. I also believe that a person’s “vibe” is a real
energy that can be identified and used to understand them more fully. Bernie’s
“vibe” was healthy, and it jived with mine. His face showed that while a little
nuts, sure, he was also a good
person.
Hillary didn’t jive as well with me. Her face said she
could get the job done, but possibly at the expense of others. But Trump… Trump
made me feel sick. His face said he was deeply sad and insecure, and to
compensate, he has spent his life searching for ways to “win.” Whatever the
game, women, money, or business, he would do/say whatever was required to “win”
the game. That’s fine on The Apprentice, or while hosting Saturday Night Live.
It’s kind of okay as a CEO as long as the success is achieved through
honesty and hard work. But, a presidential
election is NOT a game, Donald. THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IS NOT A GAME.
The office of President is about service. The president
works for the people and represents all of us. When you think of Russia, who do
you think about? Putin. Cuba? Castro. Canada? Trudeau (Oh, Trudeau, please
don’t judge too harshly). When people from other countries think about America?
Donald Trump? Seriously? He’s going to be the new face of America?! I’m
embarrassed. Along with aspartame still being produced and non-paid maternity
leave, this is an embarrassment.
Coltrane and I did our usual routine tonight - we read the
“monkey book” and the “sun book,” said our prayers, and then just smiled and
hugged each other until Tyler came home from the gym. Tyler’s face as he peeked
into the room told me all I needed to know about the election. And I just broke
down. Maybe part of it was out of pride, but more deeply, it was for my perfectly sweet little Coltrane. Politics matter when you’re a part of raising
the next generation. Which is why, for the first time ever, I actually voted. In
Idaho, unfortunately, a non-republican vote is mostly pointless, but I still
did it and it was emotional and beautiful and I felt really peaceful about my
choices.
Trump is a bad choice. If you voted for him, you made a
bad choice. I try really hard to be a nice person. I try not to judge and I’ll
even make up stories for why someone behaves a certain way – for example, a
person cuts me off on the road probably because their wife is in labor and
courteous driving isn’t exactly a priority when your wife is pushing out your baby. I do this because I like to think that people are mostly good and I try to be mostly
good and nice and kind. Today, I’m really struggling with being nice and kind.
I want to scream and vandalize all Trump paraphernalia, because he is just the
worst. THE WORST.
To the next four years, may they be less-than due to impeachment.
(Because of the nature of Conan's show, he makes fun of his guest's ideas, but there is so much truth to what he's saying.)
