As I arrived at my Aunt's house for this year's Thanksgiving, it became clear that this was no ordinary year. I come from a very political household. Some households are very conservative, while some are very liberal. Essentially, the liberals of the family asked the conservatives not to brag about Donald Trump winning. This prompted the conservatives to threaten to boycott the whole dinner. It ended with me driving to each conservatives' house and convincing each of them to spend time with their family on Thanksgiving. But even after the family dust had settled, I felt a sense of despair. While we had all taken an oath not to talk about politics at the table, the prospects for our country continued to race through my mind. Now a citizen of a country run by Donald Trump, what would life look like for my kids?
The first thing I fear is war. The United States is already responsible for so much violence abroad. We've murdered so many people from all over the world, and I seriously worry what will happen when our country becomes more vulnerable. How soon before our adversaries attempt to take revenge on our crumbling empire? I worry that countries like Russia will be able to craft strong alliances while we cannibalize NATO. I worry that terrorist groups in the Middle East will continue to bait us into costly conflicts. I worry that as fossil fuels dry up, military force will be used to secure dwindling resources.
The second most horrific part of our possible future is the effects of climate change. Now that the world's second largest polluter is led by an administration that does not believe in science, the devastating effects of climate change are sure to be magnified. I believe that my generation will live to see walls built around New York City to push back rising tides. I believe gas masks will become necessary in metropolitan areas. I fear that clean drinking water may become a luxury. If the nation's current response is any indication, there will be no attempt to to salvage our environment. We will deny until it is a comedy to do so and then deny some more.
While these remain hypothetical I know that I am not the only one who is fearing the future. I know I cannot be the only one who loses sleep at the thought of families ripped apart by draconian immigration and drug laws. I am certainly not the only one who worries about the status of women in our country. What I can advise, is to be active in the fight against the Trump effect. When family and friends start to divide each other based on this maniac don't let him win. Refer to your inner humanity and remind people that we have to work together and there are more important thingsin life than politics. Engage in listening and understanding, especially for those you disagree with. When someone seeks to divide, compassion and kindness can slow them down. Hopefully, with enough effort, we can keep race and ignorance from further dividing our country.
