Liberal communities are often referred to as “bubbles.” We know of the prejudices that rampage through the outside world, but within tight-knit progressive communities, those things feel very distant. It can be comforting, to be able to talk freely about fringe topics such as sexuality and race, but it also means we are hit with a harsh reality check upon leaving The Bubble.
For many liberals, Trump’s election was unforeseen. The realization that so many people came out to vote for a man who has been bellowing hateful rhetoric struck a chord with many Americans. Since the early hours of Nov. 9, attacks on minorities and protests have ensued. No matter who you voted for, the divide in our country is undeniable.
While we do need to come together as a nation, T9rump supporters calling for everyone to, “just respect our different opinions!” are also living in a bubble.
The protestors have legitimate concerns. Mike Pence is a strong supporter of anti-LGBTQ discrimination and conversion therapy. Donald Trump has demanded a wall along the Mexican border, bragged about committing sexual assault, called to restrict women’s access to healthcare, denied climate change, threatened to launch nuclear weapons, disrespected veterans, mocked disabilities, demanded that all Muslim citizens be deported, was endorsed by the Ku Klux Klan, and has no previous political experience.
Trump’s social and environmental policies do not reflect the direction we should be headed as individuals, as communities, as a nation, or as a planet. We have every right to express what we feel, be it fear, anger, or heartbreak. This nation protects the right to peacefully protest for a reason, and I cannot see a better time to exercise that right than right now.
However, 47% of the popular vote went to Trump, and that is too large of a population to ignore. That means nearly half the country had become so disenchanted by the political system, they voted in favor of an entirely new business model over protecting civil rights.
How could citizens of one country become so out of touch with each other?
The answer is bubbles. The red areas on the electoral college map are almost entirely rural areas. Smaller, spread out populations often means neighbors won’t have drastically different economic backgrounds, so the political consensus is that there should be more wealth, not a redistribution of it. Additionally, with fewer people in one place, there is less agency to raise awareness of social problems.
The blue dots on the map represent cities, where people live on top of people. The superrich may live blocks away from others in poverty, so the economic problem they see is not the lack of wealth but the need for redistribution of wealth. Urban areas become melting pots with such high populations, it would be impossible not to meet people representing a multitude of cultures, which makes social injustices a much more well-known topic in day-to-day life.
In part, this distance is literally caused by a geographic division; it’s hard to exchange information when we don’t run into each other on the street every day. Media also perpetuates the divide to some extent by reporting false information and appealing to specific groups. We also perpetuate bias ourselves by only reading articles we already agree with.
We need to pop our bubbles and talk to each other as equals. Support those who do not have the same opportunities or privileges as you. Make a genuine effort not just to “agree to disagree,” but to truly understand where both sides are coming from (Hint: this means that if you want to consider yourself an accepting, open-minded person and still support Trump’s policies, think about that again. Think REALLY hard about that).
May you all stay safe and watch out for each other during this difficult time.
