November is particularly colorful in the Northwest and this one began with a brilliant clear sky. My mood was celebratory as we got closer to the election and I painted this breaking storm over the mountains of Hanalei on Kauai. Friends were visiting the islands and their reports on Facebook prompted my memories. It was so exciting to be on the cusp of electing our first female president, plus, team blue would win back the Senate!
Not. So. Fast. Randy.
It seemed worse than 9/11 because it was self inflicted and as a close observer of politics I was as blindsided as anyone. In the emotional rubble, I knew then this runaway train had been visible for miles. But I would not believe the country that chose Barack Obama twice would then select Donald Trump. It could never happen...
I wasn `t about to make half the country my enemy so I began to research. I soon heard a historian say that Trump was not possible without Obama. Then I read blogs from Democrats in red states and began to understand this was a pipe bomb thrown into the middle of our democracy. Why would anyone do this? Why would anyone set into slow motion this national suicide? How could anyone be so reckless?
I know something about self destruction and know at its heart is hopelessness. If someone lived in the country or in a small town and saw their community decimated by job losses, the adult children having to move elsewhere to survive, an ongoing rampant opioid epidemic, a loss of pride and true poverty, they might feel there was nothing left to lose. You might throw a grenade to get some attention. Every single voter knew the disgusting character of Donald Trump. This was not ignorance or just racism or only deep seated misogyny. I`ve come to think this was a call for help. In part at least, god knows it also unleashed the worst elements in the human psyche. The president-elect must answer for that eventually.
In my prosperous blue corner of the country, there has been a call to arms and people are responding. Our egregious loss in the electoral college AGAIN demands personal action. This will be the most scrutinized and confronted administration in history. But let`s breathe deep and choose carefully what to fight. Such as this;
Today there was serious talk of a registry of Muslims!
That is not going to fly, we will not make that mistake again! This is a matter for uprising, freedom of religion is front and center in the constitution.
Exhausting ourselves over the appointment of Steve Bannon is not. Arguably, a president deserves his choice of whoever he wants for an advisor even if it`s a white supremacist prick.
There will be many just causes but as a Democrat and a patriot, I want my party to rethink its identity, find fresh articulate leaders, return to its roots in the labor movement and someday lead the country out of the abyss we are likely to fall into. Trump doesn`t care about rural America, he just used them. Let`s gather them back into the party with a bold plan worthy of FDR.
The visual cacophony of autumn is thrilling but I prefer it when it doesn`t match my mood. What a tough week!!
I hate the idea of already vulnerable people in a new state of fear. Although I`ll be vigilant about policy, it`s individuals I care most about. I want to protect someone or something. Use this unasked for white advantage for good.
To females, consider advanced self defense. This trailer for Beauty Bites Beast is an inspiration. Patriarchy will not go down without a fight.
For those of you inundated by petitions, read this.
To understand better what the malady even is, try this.
Many, including me, are psychologically fragile right now. Let`s be gentle and kind and as deserving of that better world as possible.
Think our country has problems? Venezuela has problems!
work for sale in my studio
7 comments:
Thank you for writing this post. As an overeducated socialist white woman living in AL ('nuff said), I am struggling with how to deal with this. Having worked for NASA here for over 22 years, and having worked with the mindset that elected Trump, I think that it is driven by fear. Fear learned early in patriarchal racist non-worldly households and fundamentalist churches. Fear that they will have to work for and accept decisions made by women or people of a different color or religion or sexual orientation. Fearful men and women who cannot accept that they must learn to live in a larger world.
the oil on yupo painting is great!
So true that we are all feeling a bit fragile and unsure. Beautiful paintings....
Thanks for writing Connie. Sounds like you`re a light in the darkness there at your job at NASA. Thank you for the important work of that agency.
Fear, pain, ignorance are all a factor in this debacle. My particular point was the Democratic party and Hillary lost crucial Obama voters. Why? And where is the wisdom, not to mention heart, in abandoning the red rural communities? Democrats need to be better and braver than that.
Randall, you need to get involved and help out the Democratic single-mindedness. We were so sure Hillary was going to win in spite of all the media telling us how unlikeable she was and seeing the younger voters still angry about Bernie or just not enthusiastic at all about voting. I admit my sadness and anger and now what do I do with that? Stay informed. Wisdom, heart, compassion, skill - all these were needed to win and we let them go by the wayside with angry ugly words and a feeling of superiority over those voting Trump. I don't know if it's true but I did read that 44% of registered voters did not vote at all. That says a lot about apathy and indecision. I love your paintings, especially the top one - such beautiful colors! Keep making beautiful things :).
My brother voted for Obama but said he was not voting out of protest in this election because of the rhetoric. I told him he was voting for Trump. Many liberals did the protest vote. This was a down and dirty election both ways and offensive to many. Unfortunately accusations did not seem to stick to Trump. I truly think the fact Hillary is a woman was a bigger factor than admitted. Hillary won many more votes than Trump did. It's like when a football game loses by one point and the coach is fired. Nothing is wrong with the party and people were not ignored by the party. The Electoral College is not working for Democrats. These smaller states have more power than bigger states. This is our second Democratic party loss due to distribution of votes and Electoral weight. One million people's votes were not counted! I am furious! I wanted a a brilliant woman like Hillary to represent me.
I loved the video of the woman defending herself. Thanks. Always love your art. It depicts the world the way we want the world to be.
I agree with Connie completely and feel as strongly as you do, Randall. The President elect's team will say a lot about his values. White men threw a brick at a young innocent black woman this week in Hillsboro ranting about taking their country back. Saddens and angers me this racism. Hillary shouldn't have used the word 'deplorables' - I was worried when she did and Obamacare premiums have gone up too high. You're right, she didn't reach out far enough, evidentally.
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