Still the Stars Shine...

"pauljones" (pauljones)
11/09/2016 at 02:29 • Filed to: reflections; rants; pauljonesshithimselfagain; oldmanjones; imtoooldfortbhisshit

I’m at a loss right now. I can see clearly what has happened today, but I’m having trouble processing it all. Like any election, this was about more than foreign policy, more than economic policy, more than red vs blue. This was about our character as a culture, a people, and a nation. What we choose, and whom we present to the world as our representative, says more about us that it does the world or the individual that we choose. It is a direct reflection on who we are, both as individuals and as a collective.

Here, there was no truly good choice. But there was a choice that was objectively better, and we squandered that choice. From the third party outskirts we had a candidate that did not know basic geography or current events. From the left we had a candidate with a checkered record. From the right we had bigoted con man.

It’s like being asked which member of your family you’d rather watch die. It’s an impossible decision. At least, it should be. But something happened tonight. Something that scares me. We took an impossible decision, and chose what may prove to be the worst possible solution. Not only that, we did it with relative ease. With popular majority, even.

Don’t try to hide behind the “I didn’t vote for him” line. It does not matter that you as an individual did not vote for him. You are a part of this country, and after all that you’ve benefitted from it, you don’t get to simply wash your hands of it.Like it or not, the country that gave you everything you have - that you are an inseparable part of - made this decision.

The “other people” didn’t do this; WE did this.

Why did this happen? Some argue that it is because the white working class voters in rural America felt disenfranchised. Some assert that it’s because of the baby boomers that miss the good old days, or that it was the young millennials that split the vote by voting third party out of protest. Others argue that it is an extinction behavior; the last virulent gasp of the old ways. Still others argue that it is a result of a myriad of other causes, both small and large.

In truth, they are all right. It is about all of the above, and more. It is about all of these things coalescing at long last and synthesizing into perhaps our biggest existential crisis since the Civil War. There is a battle to define ourselves.

And so, the ultimate question: who are we, that we - as a nation - elected this man?

Let me tell you who we just announced ourselves to be: a bigoted, short-sighted, angry, irrational, racist, and misogynistic people. A people who feel threatened by evolution and change, and rather that strive to make that evolution and change work for us, blindly fight it out of fear for that which we are unwilling or unable to understand. Once the top of the world, we are now a frightened and insecure people that look to put others around is down out of desire to show dominance in a world where the very notion of dominance is antiquated and obsolete.

Some may pass of Trump’s virulent behavior as boisterousness, confidence, or locker room talk. Some will argue that it is a display of authenticity that seems to have been lacking. As for the latter, I would agree. It IS an authentic display of backwards and demented behavior. The man is genuine in that much.

For those of you that voted for Trump, you have my sympathy. It is a terrible life of fear that you lead, and when you are ready to face your fear and realize that there was nothing to fear in the first place, I will be here to help you take those steps.

In the meantime, those of us who see through that fear and inadequacy have a rough road ahead of us, as we struggle to clean up the mess that you make. It’s a pretty bleak outlook.

Be that as it may, I will do what I can.

You see, while many are calling this the figurative end of the world as we know it, and.not unjustifiably so, I think back to something that my parents taught me. They taught me, perhaps never directly or explicitly, that that which we think is the worst day we could ever imagine really isn’t. The day someone died, the day a bigoted candidate got elected - they are terrible.

But the worst day comes later - when it sinks in. When you not only realize and comprehend what just happened, but accept it as fact. The day you realize that despite the fact that it feels like your world is imploding in on you and coming to a figurative end, and you figuratively (or perhaps literally) cry yourself to sleep; only to wake up the next day and realize that still the wind blows, still the world turns, and still the stars shine. They continue as ever they have, as ever the will continue to do, without pause or concern about what just happened to you.

THAT is the worst day.

But in that darkness, if you are brave enough and strong enough, you will see something beautiful. You will see the wind blow, the world turn, and the stars shine - as ever they have in the past, and as ever they will continue to do - no matter what just happened. Take a moment, shift a little, a see the world in front of you a little differently, and you’ll realize there is nothing more beautiful than that. The fact that world continues the next day is its way of encouraging you; reminding you that no matter what yesterday brought, today is a new day, and tomorrow can be as promising (or as bleak) as we want it to be. It the world’s version of picking us up by the bootstraps, putting us in front of a mirror, and reminding ourselves of our own potential.

A terrible thing happened today by the standards of many, but it is not the end of the world. The world is still ours, and we can still make it a better, brighter place. The next four years will be unpleasant, but that is little more than motivation to make the best of what we have now while planning how to make the four years that come after better.

Hold tight - for better or for worse, the wind is still in our hair, the world is still turning, and the stars are still shining - constant, silent beacons to guide and inspire us.

Tomorrow will be another opportunity.

Good night, kids.

DISCUSSION (33)

Sam > pauljones
11/09/2016 at 02:33

I didn’t vote for him. And I actively campaigned against him. If we had a poperational representation system, this type of thing wouldn’t happen. Two party systems inherently divide the country down the middle.

Berang > pauljones
11/09/2016 at 02:37

It’s pretty simple. We were given bad candidates.

We got bad candidates in 2000. You give people bad candidates, and one of them is going to get elected. The group that will tolerate a bad candidate the most, in other words, has the lowest standards, will always win in this situation.

RallyWrench > Sam
11/09/2016 at 02:38

You’re right, but marginalized crackpot third parties steal votes. Trump won by Gary Johnson’s margins in more than one state. Libertarianism has been hijacked by Tea Partiers and people who just want to legalize weed. The Green Party is fucking joke, as much as I might agree with aggressive environmental protections. If we could get our shit together with real alternative parties, despite the campaign finance system stacked against that, maybe we could have a national conversation.

RallyWrench > pauljones
11/09/2016 at 02:39

The voice of reason speaks. You put more effort into that than I did, I just shared an old post about Trans Ams saving us. This is better.

Sovereign, Purveyor of Coupes > pauljones
11/09/2016 at 02:44

I didn’t read the whole thing, but I think you are wrong about there being one choice better than the other. maybe to you, but realize that not everybody thinks that way.

And that’s what I truly don’t get, is how everyone is so close minded about this whole thing. Your opinion is not the only one, realize that others think differently than you, and saying it’s just because they’re racist/sexist/whatever is a massive cop out. There’s more to this election and government as a whole than social issues.

Amoore100 > pauljones
11/09/2016 at 02:45

I hated Trump. I actively worked against him. But now that he’s been elected, I’m not gonna cry about it. Making a fuss is just what Trump supporters would have done had Clinton won, and I’m not stooping that low. Instead, I’m optimistic. I can’t wait to see where this country is going. It’s a bit of a shame that I have to be a part of it, but at least things are going to get a bit more exciting around these parts. Electing a man with barely any policies, no experience, and extreme racism, misogyny, and bigotry is only going to end in one hell of an entertaining presidency and, seeing as I can do nothing about it, I’m ready to pop some popcorn and lean back and watch the spectacle.

Kinja'd!!!

Clinton, see you in 2020.

Axial > RallyWrench
11/09/2016 at 02:48

That’s not true at all. You have to assume that all of the people who voted third-party would have voted Clinton instead to make that conclusion, and that is most certainly not how that would have gone down, and that’s not even including loyalists who vote for their third party of choice regardless of who is representing the main two candidates.

And Libertarianism has always been something of a catch-all. If you align yourself more with Liberal social policy and don’t care too greatly about the economics and such as outlined by the Democrats, you’ll find a home in the Libertarian part. Conversely, if you align more with Conservative economics and don’t care too much about the social stuff as outlined by the Republicans...you will still find a home with the Libertarians. The Libertarian part has always been something of a regional thing, and there have always been a lot of people from the anti-fed, NRA-loving crowd claiming membership. There was no “sabotage” by Tea Party members, it’s actually a natural fit.

slipperysallylikespenguins > pauljones
11/09/2016 at 02:54

Kinja'd!!!

Wheelerguy > pauljones
11/09/2016 at 02:55

What I don’t want to see is how those who voted Trump will respond. What will they do? What will they say? Because that, for me, is more telling than Donald himself. Their actions and words will speak far louder than whatever Donald and His Court will do, because in the end, they have the final seal of approval.

Anything he does can be left unquestioned. And that is what I fear the most.

TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > pauljones
11/09/2016 at 03:06

lulz.

R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet > Amoore100
11/09/2016 at 03:07

Real talk Hillary needs to get away from the Democratic party. Her record will continue to hamstring her goals. America deserves a female President, but deserves someone more worthy than a Clinton. Looking at you Elizabeth Warren.

Berang > RallyWrench
11/09/2016 at 03:09

Johnson is conservative though, he was definitely not taking Clinton’s votes. And Stein barely got anything (although possibly just enough to throw the vote in PA, which was critical). If anything Johnson tipped the vote to Clinton in at least one state tonight, possibly more.

RallyWrench > Berang
11/09/2016 at 03:17

Johnson could easily be looked at as liberal as well, hence his appeal. Mostly conservative with a liberal streak, perhaps. He wasn’t taking Clinton’s votes, per se, but he was taking 2-3% of the vote in many places, easily the margin between Clinton and Trump, which could be split if not given an advantage to Hillary. It seemed to me he played Ralph Nader to Clinton’s Al Gore, as it were.

Berang > RallyWrench
11/09/2016 at 03:21

Don’t confuse correlation for causation. If Johnson’s votes would have gone anywhere else, they most likely would have gone to trump. He most certainly mopped up more conservative votes than liberal votes.

Variance > pauljones
11/09/2016 at 03:22

How is referring to this whole fiasco as the “figurative end of the world” “not unjustifiable”? That is absolutely asinine; even if Clinton had won the Presidency, the bulk of the power still rests with Congress (which retained its Republican majority) and the State governments. It will be an uncertain 4 years, for sure, but not the end of the country. People are losing their fucking minds, and I don’t get it; the Federal government is specifically structured to prevent such a thing.

Variance > Amoore100
11/09/2016 at 03:28

Clinton, see you in 2020.

Good god, I hope not. She has already lost multiple times; give us somebody who can actually win. Had the DNC run a Sanders/Warren ticket, I think we would have seen record voter turnout and a landslide victory.

RallyWrench > Berang
11/09/2016 at 03:29

I don’t think I am. I know several “principled liberals” who voted for Johnson out of disgust for the two party system’s offerings, choosing to ignore his apparent ignorance of foreign policy as conservative voters have for Trump, and that’s in California. The margins struck me as interesting. Maybe it’s nothing at all, but when a third guy occupies the margin of victory in an election such as this, it makes me wonder how it swung.

Amoore100 > R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet
11/09/2016 at 03:30

YESSSSSS. Warren is amazing. 10/10 would vote for her.

Amoore100 > Variance
11/09/2016 at 03:30

Holy shit, now that’s something I can’t turn down. Except make that a Warren/Sanders ticket. ;)

Variance > Amoore100
11/09/2016 at 03:35

I honestly not be surprised to see Warren return in 2020; I think Sanders’ age will hold him back from running again (he’ll be 79), so maybe we’ll see a Warren/??? ticket? (as long as it doesn’t include anti-vaxxer Jill Stein)

Berang > RallyWrench
11/09/2016 at 03:36

It only really makes sense when looking at states where neither of the big two got a decisive 50+% of the vote. In that case 3rd parties have an obvious impact. Look at Colorado though, and it seems certain Johnson took the vote from Trump and gave the state to Clinton, despite neither of the big two reaching 50%.

Amoore100 > Variance
11/09/2016 at 03:38

Warren/Clinton. Perfect. Clinton gets to have her moment all over again while Warren takes care of what’s actually important (i.e. changing Trump’s mess from a fascist nightmare to a semi-socialist utopia)

HideyoshiJP > pauljones
11/09/2016 at 03:43

Just chill out, bro. His damage will be limited. I didn’t vote for him, but his domestic policies may help me somewhat. I voted based on foreign policy. I’m willing to accept internal fuckery as long as we’re not dead. I like to think we will not be dead in the next four years, but time will tell.

Anyway, just keep living your life. Tomorrow is another day.

RallyWrench > Axial
11/09/2016 at 03:46

I’m not assuming anything, I’m just curious about the effect. I know an awful lot of “Libertarian” hippies here in CA who would beg to differ as to Johnson and Weld’s appeal. A vote for them is meaningless in CA, but elsewhere that isn’t winner-take-all, I’m curious. As I replied to Berang, it may be nothing, but my memory of Ralph Nader’s effect on the 2000 election are still fresh so I can’t ignore a 3rd party potentially affecting the outcome. It’s not sabotage, I just think the meaning of “Libertarian” has been hijacked to mean something it didn’t before. I think most people, left or right, are Libertarian in some way if they’re honest with themselves. Nobody wants Big Brother, nobody wants high taxes. People just want to be, and the ideal model of Libertarianism promises that to some, at the possible expense of meaningful votes elsewhere. If third parties could get their shit together, and somehow get on the national stage with the D’s and R’s, it would be a better, broader conversation.

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > Wheelerguy
11/09/2016 at 06:11

this.

nermal > pauljones
11/09/2016 at 06:37

Counterpoint: The president is a figure head more than anything. A significant portion of the population voted for Trump to be their figure head. Not because of hate, but because of hope.

There are significant portions of the country that beleive they are worse off now than they were 8 yrs ago. Looking at average incomes relative to inflation, some very much are. These people hope that Trump will somehow help to return them to were they were previously. That group turned out to vote in higher numbers than the group that think he is nothing more than an ignorant cheeto.

The world is not ending, but it is most certainly evolving. Some will fair better than others, as has always been the case.

R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet > Amoore100
11/09/2016 at 08:15

Warren would lose that just by association with Clinton

yamahog > HideyoshiJP
11/09/2016 at 09:04

what you call “internal fuckery” is in fact “basic human rights and dignities” to many of us.

HideyoshiJP > yamahog
11/09/2016 at 09:24

This is what happens when I edit poorly. I was talking about HRC’s internal fuckery.

Still, I wonder which basic human rights you think the US President can single-handedly do away with.

yamahog > HideyoshiJP
11/09/2016 at 09:35

I wonder what you seem to think isn’t on the table for the people this election has spent months othering.

Amoore100 > R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet
11/09/2016 at 10:04

Meh, I guess so since Americans aren’t smart enough to realize the Vice President really doesn’t matter.

R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet > Amoore100
11/09/2016 at 10:35

Clinton and Bush families are politically like multiplying by -1. No matter what the odds they will always be reflected as a losing candidate.

Xyl0c41n3 > pauljones
03/03/2017 at 14:17

I know this comment is coming months after you posted this, but I just saw this post today (after linking to another one of your posts elsewhere). It’s no surprise I missed it, posted on a Wednesday, as it was (those are my busiest days of the work week, and that Wednesday, in particular, I was doggedly focusing on my work). Anyway, I wish I had seen it then.

You’re a fabulous, thoughtful writer, paul, and I always enjoy reading your pieces. So first off: thank you very much for this post.

Secondly, now that I’ve had time to adjust to the new reality and to the daily barrage of OMG headlines, I was struck a bit by this:

And so, the ultimate question: who are we, that we - as a nation - elected this man?

Let me tell you who we just announced ourselves to be: a bigoted, short-sighted, angry, irrational, racist, and misogynistic people.

I think you’re right, but I’d add an addendum. I think many groups within this country would have said, before the election, that they already knew this to be true.

The worst facets of our nature (as a country) have long harbored bigotry, racism, anger, irrationality, sexism and fear.

But the best facets of ourselves have always fought against that. To me, it’s a bit like the fictional, often unrealistically (for now) hopefulness of the Star Trek universe. (Well, probably the TNG universe, more specifically).

Something that has always rubbed me the wrong way about the “Make America Great Again” campaign slogan, aside from how it’s really nothing more than coded language for all of the aforementioned racism, bigotry, etc., is just how un American a slogan it is.

I don’t know a single person who is aware of our country’s shortcomings when it comes to equality — who fights to get this country to live up to its ideals — who thinks America isn’t great already.

I don’t think the two opinions (“We still have issues to address in this country” and “America is a great country”) are mutually exclusive. On the contrary, I think the two are inexorably linked. It’s precisely because so many of us recognize that part of our country’s greatness is its ability and willingness to evolve that makes it great to begin with.

Am I disappointed about how so many people, including so many of my fellow Latinos, voted for Trump? Yes, of course I am. I still don’t quite understand it. And it still grieves me to know that this election has made us take significant steps backwards in regards to our social, environmental, economic and educational progression.

But that brings me to something else that stood out in your post:

And:

Hold tight - for better or for worse, the wind is still in our hair, the world is still turning, and the stars are still shining - constant, silent beacons to guide and inspire us.

That’s not at all dissimilar to how I perceive things, as well.

I’m fortunate to live in an area with an abundance of wildlife and sprawling panoramas. And it always seems that the darkest days are also the days when nature chooses to make her best displays. I’ll hear the fluty whistle of an osprey overhead and look up just in time to see it swoop down with a fish in its claws. Or the sunset, set off by low clouds, will be so magnificent that I have to stop to enjoy the mute spectacle.

You’re right. The worst thing can happen. But once you step outside, you see that the birds are still singing, the sun has still risen, the breeze is still blowing.

Glad I’m not the only one who thinks that way. And again, thank you for your post.