I have just decided to seek an outlet for my frustrations and confusion, after shortly but repeatedly catching myself sighing deeply on multiple occasions throughout today. Some people I have encountered today seemed to understand my rather sullen mood, some had questionable looks on their faces as they were more than exulted celebrating their long-sought moment of victory.
Admittedly and to my deepest remorse, 2016 was the FIRST election year where I have put an active effort and time into understanding the agendas put forth by both candidates. I had never been interested and was foolishly naive and comfortable enough with my ignorance and stupidity. I have somewhat pompously masked my lack of understanding, interest, sense of responsibility in politics with dull cynicism and apathy, shrugging it off as I served myself on the silver platter for more sensational gossips, provocative entertainments and soul-sucking banality of consumerism.
For last few months I managed to sustain an interest (or disgust; although not merely sufficient) to understand the history of American politics, the legacy of President Obama and the positions of both parties on the major topics such as economic revitalization, immigration, education, healthcare, foreign policy and others. By no means do I even consider myself an expert or can say that I’m slightly knowledgeable of the current agendas and their ramifications on a global scale — but what I sought to achieve was a level of understanding where I can rightfully form an opinion and make an informed decision about important matters that a 30 years old should at least care about.
I was not comfortable or familiar with sharing my political views. Especially as a minority and a new foreigner without a right to vote in a state of North Carolina — the swing state and successful battlegrounds for Barack Obama in both 2008 and 2012. Ironically, having lived in this state for less than two years proved enough for me to question and worry deeply about the continued success of the outcome this election year and it proved to be warranted.
When I first moved here, aside from the expected struggles and difficulties of adjusting to a new place (a different country but relatively very very close to my home), the massive cultural and behavioural differences, wildly opposing views on worldly matters including immigration, economy and foreign affair policies between the two adjacent neighbouring countries spooked me immensely. As I settled in slowly though, it was a no-brainer to see the reasons behind the growing divergence between two countries, even amongst Americans, and understand firsthand the provenance of popular political beliefs and deeply rooted conservatism in this particular state that just turned red. The air of hatred, the need of a radical change, the stifling frustrations of many, many average American people were heavy and palpable all along.
What really shocked me was not the disparate sentiments of Canadian and American people. It was not the lingering battle between the haves and the have-nots, Washington versus rest of the states, or people who have power versus people who don’t.
It was a cold revelation and rather depressing discovery of true America. The whole picture. The working class. The Rednecks. The innate and humane instinct of ordinary people to preserve and protect the-once-indestructable-america rather than disciplined and guided efforts towards inclusion and embracement of diversity.
A deeply divided nation. That was America.
Beneath the layers of glamour and glitter of powerful, dominant, strongest nation on the face of the earth, the America as I have known it for 30 years, the true, average Americans have been fighting and vehemently clamoring for their voices to be heard.
I do not mean to paint a tainted picture of United States of America. I’ve witnessed, experienced and benefited from the great, powerful country. The country is still driving the world economy both in finance and technology, breeding and attracting intelligent future leaders through education and job opportunities, leading the research and advancement in technology, science, climate change and space exploration, leading the R&D investment efforts in STEM and education of children, protecting many countries in war-zones and protecting its own people through basic human rights including freedom of speech, healthcare and democracy. The speed and scope of changes that only US can drive and materialize in infrastructure, education, healthcare and technology are incommensurable and its benefits far exceeds those of many, many countries if not all.
However, there is a distinct contrast between the facade of America most people read or hear about, and the millions of voices that were heard yesterday. This election year was pivotal not only in a sense that it was a clash between a first woman presidential nominee who’s been in the very center of the infamous Washington circle versus a first businessman and tv personality who has never served in military or held an office.
It was critical because it represented the culmination of a deeply divided nation, and a fractured world in pain. It was critical because it served as a single greatest warning against the growing gap and the consequential, precarious future. It was critical because it represented as a epitome of the era we live in, characterized by hate, bigotry, prejudice, and bias.
In U.S.A, just like other countries, there exists a steep income gap between the working class and the top 1%, a bias between genders, a prejudice between races and hatred between many many extremely vocal, irreconcilable groups of people with each, a deepest sense of entitlement. The scorched-earth rampage, scathing and nerve-wrecking campaign merely was a prelude and a foreshadow of the real America and real American people that was finally due to be discovered by even the most disinterested bystanders, like me.
I have on many occasions questioned my moral ground, beliefs, opinions during past few months. I had to face my own implicit bias, lack of understanding and tendency to diverge my attention and renege to square one, immersing myself in good foods, my beloved little doggies and vacation planning — something that was light and pleasing to my mere mortal being. It’s just so easy to surround yourself with an alternate universe, pretending everything is covered in rainbows and unicorns especially when things start to look gloomy.
In the times we live in — both blessed and cursed with technology and sea of unfiltered information — everyday is somewhat of a battle for an ordinary citizen. We are inundated with flashy promotions, false information, nudged and propelled towards superficial and materialistic lifestyles. More often than not, the values we teach children such as kindness, forgiveness, fairness, understanding are easily overlooked and forgotten.
Some will say the result of last night presidential election is the stunning repudiation of establishment. a knock-out punch to Washington. a much need change. a voice finally heard.
For me, it was a much needed blow to my face. a personal enlightenment, realizing that I should no longer hide under the coat-tails of disenfranchised, marginalized, and scorned group of ignorant people who have too much ego to admit and acknowledge the reality; that we just don’t know enough to have an opinion; that we never try to make an informed decision especially when it comes down to boring things like politics; that we go on our daily lives pretending as if the future political landscape will have no effect on our lives, complaining and touting that we have no real power to change anything.
We shy away from being truly informed. Maybe it’s because truth hurts and we are afraid. We easily forget to exercise our civic duties and responsibilities because it’s no longer deemed to be relevant. We prioritize money, convenience and speed over important values and visions. At the end of it all, it’s always so easy to blame someone else, something else.
Maybe we as ordinary citizens, can change things. Maybe it’s all fucking rigged. I don’t know. I can say with certainty that not many expected this outcome, let alone a spike in stock market following the shocking outcome, almost reminding me of the original conundrum I had trying hopelessly to understand the history of politics and how it really works. Some insiders may be smirking as they read the news today and some would seriously question the soundness of the political scene and still be baffled at the result.
This election presented me a challenge on all fronts. It was a political enigma, an ideological dilemma, and an onerous test on emotional extremes. I am not angry, just bewildered; half curious and half horrified to find out what is to come. What I know for sure is that ignorance is not a bliss; that having a less than perfectly substantiated opinion is better than not having one and that a continued interest and participation is not a choice but a responsibility in order for constitutional democracy to thrive.
I’m a 30 years old female, once a very conservative, now a fiscal liberal, a moderate on social issues and a fervent supporter of open borders and free trade across many nations. It’s a very personal opinion and I still have lots to learn and deliberate. But from the outcome of last night’s election, from what I have witnessed firsthand, America is strong but hurting. People are frustrated and fed up with the establishment and would rather resort to a demagogic leader who capitalized (at least in terms of the campaign) on fear and prejudice, for a risky and highly improbable chance at much needed change, or just to get away from the Washington circle.
I think about the traits and the deciding factors, characteristics, qualifications of a President, a leader in general. It could be experience, temperament, knowledge or just a simple likability factor that appeals to the emotions and passions of the crowd rather than reasoning and deliberation.
Last night’s outcome did not seem to be a result of reasoning, principles, values or visions that most people uphold for themselves or their children. However, the last string of optimism I have left in me, if any, is that the voices of people matter. Whether deceitfully swayed, ignorantly stubborn, innocuously optimistic, politically right or wrong, marginalized or powerful, educated or not, at the end, ultimately, I can’t help but concede to the fact that last night’s result was the hopeful future and the radical change of America that real American people have long-awaited for and decided for themselves.
