I have had an interesting week following the election, and I know there have been hundreds of articles written on every bit of it. All I can possibly do is share my stories. I don't want to share my opinions as much because that is anti-productive. No one listens to someone who is telling them they are wrong. Here are the most interesting things that have happened to me since the world of politics blew up in society's face.
1. The Fourth Grader's Tour
I was recently asked by my old elementary school to give tours to fourth graders that were coming to campus for a basketball game. It was a beautiful day on a beautiful campus. Then we pass the student center, where there is, written on trash cans outside, the phrase "F*** Trump". Whether I agree or not, I am left to explain to a handful of fourth graders what that phrase means and why someone would say that. "Sometimes people do disrespectful things because they're scared and they want to be heard", I told them. "Ya know how you can say whatever you want as long as your parents and teachers approve? Sometimes people don't listen to anyone telling them what is right and wrong, so they say anything they want. But we live in a place where people can have any belief they want as long as it doesn't hurt someone or if they don't write it on trash cans". I then showed them the banner that was hung outside the arts building that read "When They Go Low, We Go High". This banner does not have to be political; that is not a message to Republicans or Democrats. That is a message to everyone that this country needs morals. I told them that they should listen to the rules that their teachers and parents give them, but to be kind to each other. I hate that I had to do that. It shouldn't have been my place.
2. The Sidewalk Conversation
Directly following the tour, I was walking down the street towards the dining hall. I passed two seemingly latino workers covering up graffiti on the streets that read the same thing as in story number one. As I passed, one looked to the other and said, "Why the hell am I covering this up? I believe in it". I am not here to make any assumptions about this man's life. But it was fascinating to me how he said that, then put his head right back down to keep working. Was it money? Or respect? I do not know, but it was supposedly more important than his beliefs.
3. My Former High School
This is not my story to tell.
http://www.wfaa.com/news/local/collin-county/elect...4. The Acting Exercise
The night of the election, a friend of mine named Ben and I were witness to a pair of Trump supporters in the lobby of his dorm being very loud about their beliefs. Ben and I, being politically ambiguous artists that are able to put their politics to the side, thought it best to use this as an acting exercise. We approached the television they were huddled in front of. They said, "You guys are acting majors right?" We confirmed. They said, "So you must be supporting Hillary". I don't think they've met a lot of theater students, cause it's pretty spread out. But we replied "No, we are Trump supporters". They burst out in applause, greeting us with high fives and exclamations such as "I love this school" and "Make SMU Great Again". After settling in, I asked, "You guys are engineering majors?"
"Yes."
(in the most sarcastic tone possible) "So this election affects you guys a lot more than us."
"Right."
"So what do you lose if Trump loses?"
"Jobs, lower Taxes."
And the list ended. I was begging for them to go on.
"Any social issues?"
"I agree with him completely."
To which Ben said, "Yeah, build that wall". Thank God he did.
Then our friend Carly sprints in, with her hands over her mouth. One of the Trump supporters asks her if she is okay, and she responds with, "Of course I'm not! I'm gay!", and runs out the door. They didn't quite hear Carly, so they we're trying to make sense of it, because ether refused to believe they could be gay. For a long while, they sat refusing that Carly was gay. To which Ben said, "I don't think she said that she was gay! I think she said it was her friend Ima". They bought it. We were safe. For now. Once Trump won Pennsylvania, the guys got up and left. It was nice being on the winning side. It was not nice to see ignorance in the eyes of those winners.
I am not standing on a soap box, but simply telling my stories. We need peace. It doesn't look like it is coming anytime soon. But all we have to do is hope. That's what I will be doing.
