Pour your glass and raise them high -- you’ve made it through the first few days since Donald Trump’s new position as president-elect. Despite the waves and rocks, you’ve made it relatively unscathed, and that’s worth celebrating. Sure, your eyes can’t unsee the cornucopia of political posts on your timelines and newsfeeds, but it’s only Facebook at the end of the day.
Amidst all the post-election chaos, I’ve scrolled through the seemingly endless list of articles, statuses and tweets about Trump, Hillary and the current state of our country. Despite the many fears that the world would end, we’re still standing. As I reflected on it all, I find comfort in the truth that my life will go back to normal. The chaos will subside, and I will return to my day to day routine, just as I did every election before this one. In fact, I saw this same sentiment reflected by many of my friends as well. Yes, it’s chaotic right now, but we’re Americans. We’ll figure out a way to keep on, keepin' on with little change in our day-to-day business.
But then came the haunting truth.
I was swiping through my Twitter feed as I do hundreds of times before when a post caught my eye. Usually, I stay away from the “News” section of Twitter because it leaves me more confused than enlightened. However, this time there was no confusion.
As I read post after post of what people were experiencing only hours after the election, my heart sank. Even as I write this now, I have to hold back tears.
The reality is, my life will go on as it did before.
As a white male from a middle-class family, my life will go on pretty unaffected. No one will come up to me and tell me to “go back where I came from.” I will not discover racial slurs on my car windows. Fear will not riddle my heart over my loved ones being deported. Walking down the streets will continue to be a normal experience, rather than a potentially violent encounter.
Sure, many of us can take comfort in the fact that our lives will remain relatively unchanged because Trump won our election. But, the experience of a few does not dictate the experience of many. I may be waking up like I have every other day, but thousands of people in this country are not.
Regardless of party affiliation or vote case, the middle-class Caucasian community will not experience the change surging through our nation. The reality of gender, skin tone and socio-economic standing shield people like me from the true effects of racism, prejudice and sexism.
To think that my tiny, limited experience is the experience of everyone is a pitfall to be avoided. If you have been taking comfort in the fact that your life will continue as normal. STOP! Do not take comfort in this. Refuse to allow your limited experience to blind you from what others are experiencing all around you. Take a step back from nationalism and remember that oppression, poverty and marginalization is a global issue, not just an American one. Remember the victims of street violence along with the orphans and widows.
This life is bigger than our ourselves.
As a college-educated, middle-class white male, I am doing what I can to step out of my limited perspective. I refuse to take comfort in knowing my life will go on as it always has. Daily, I will strive to put myself in the shoes of hurting and do what I can to seek justice and mercy for this broken planet.
Donald Trump is president, yes, but the responsibility of creating a “great” America or making a change in the social, economic and environmental issues of our planet is not his alone. It is ours--we all have our part in the whole of humanity. We cannot let our experiences taint our ability to understand the experience of others.
Put down the filled glass that your skin and money earned you.
Seek to understand the impact this election has on the hurting--be white or not white.
Live a life that is beyond yourself.
Take to heart the words of Mahatma Gandhi when he said,
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