For the past few days, people have been coming up to me asking if I’m ok because they know I worked on the Clinton campaign. This was never about me, so I don’t mourn any personal loss. The reason I’ve been upset is for the people who aren't as privileged as am I and who might not be ok—those who are angry, sad, and scared.
First of all, I’m angry, sad, and scared too. When I said over and over again that this could be the most important election of our lifetime, I meant that. I still greatly fear the consequences of Tuesday night’s vote. Most of all, though, I’m sad—sad that America failed a lot of people: immigrants, Muslims, women, the LGBT community, African Americans, Latinos, and basically every other racial, ethnic, and religious minority. I’m sad that our nation’s first African American president will have to stand behind a man who formed his political start by questioning his birth place. I’m sad that Trump’s comments boasting about sexual assault could embolden disrespect of women. I’m sad that undocumented immigrants in limbo now fear more than ever being taken away from the country they call home. Elections have serious consequences and, as I’ve been saying all along, we cannot afford protest votes and we cannot afford apathy. We had too much of both.
At this point, we can’t change the results of the election, but we can use our emotions constructively. That’s why working on this campaign made the loss a little easier instead of harder. All around me, I saw passionate people devoting their time, their energy, and even their homes to this campaign. I saw my friends grow into stronger leaders and support each other when they needed it. I talked to people in trailers in the mountains and in public housing projects in city and they all instilled in me the opposite of what Trump is trying to teach: not to stereotype, to be truly open-minded, and that people from all different backgrounds have something special to contribute to this country. I’ll also have a lot of funny stories to tell, like the time my car battery died after a very….interesting…conversation, or the little old lady who surprised me by quoting Trump’s curse words, or the guy who proudly ran up to me to show me his “I voted” sticker. While Trump ran on a movement of hate, I can’t accept that his divisiveness represents my country. Everyday people show me that can’t be the case.
Most of all, when I look back on this campaign, I also see a future. We fell short this time, but I see teams of people who refuse to back down and who will work in 2018 and 2020 to further the Democratic vision. So to anyone who is still upset, you have a right to be. But let those emotions spur you into action.
We’re still stronger together.
