When I was talking with people before the presidential election, they gave a few reasons for supporting Trump.
1. He will lower grocery prices.
2. He will lower inflation.
3. He will protect the value of their retirement investments.
4. He is pro-life.
5. Immigration
6. Many didn't like Kamala.
7. Many (often immigrants) were too afraid to vote for a candidate whom Fox News accused of being a communist or socialist.
7. In Bolivia, one Peruvian man told me that he would not want to vote for Harris, who had supported Israel and was responsible for many deaths.
8. Others believed Trump was the candidate whom Christians should endorse. (Influenced by the religious right.)
I endured conversations with people who, instead of discussing important issues, would mock Biden after he wore a MAGA hat. Why couldn't we focus on the issues or the candidates and what they represented? I hated seeing how Fox News or the Washington Times would picture Kamala Harris....always in a goofy or non presidential light. Nobody wanted to talk about how our mockery was rooted in sexism and racism. Nobody wanted to talk about how Donald Trump is a rapist, failed business man, and cheater. Instead, people wanted to discuss how old Biden is or Hunter Biden's laptop. One person said, "If someone tried to assassinate Trump, he must be good."
These arguments confused me. Why would Christians support a candidate whose values contradict Christian values in every way? Our economy was strengthening. Our investments were growing. A study of history predicted that Trump's strategies would be ineffective, damaging, and dangerous to our progress. But his supporters would not hear this logic or this history. They wanted him to save them from their plight and guarantee their well-being no matter the cost. I understand why people reject a party telling them things are not as bad as they feel. Or a party who didn't listen. But I still cannot understand why they continue supporting a party that has become monstrous in many ways. This administration is arresting and terrorizing undocumented immigrants indiscriminately. This is inhumane and will destroy our economy. This administration is not improving our government; it is destroying it. This administration is not pro-life; its policies have already led to avoidable deaths around the world. Finally, the price of eggs and groceries are increasing. We are alienating our allies, and our national and personal security have been completely jeopardized.
At first, I thought that our issue was the loss of critical thinking skills. I started to believe that teachers are revolutionaries who teach the next generation how to think. They would teach students to synthesize information across sources instead of hearing something and taking it at face value. They would teach students how to consider context. They would teach students how to process contradictory information. Teachers also have the unique power of creating healthy communities in their classrooms, teaching students how to connect with people who think and believe differently, dialogue respectfully, and appreciate differences. I knew parents also had revolutionary power. They could teach their children how to be self-assured and confident so that their focus would be on empowering others rather than preserving themselves even when it harms others.
But I realized that people have not forgotten how to think. They have not misunderstood the message. Their vote was no mistake. They intentionally voted for a person who might protect their assets but would rape their daughters. They intentionally voted for a person who might control our borders but who would teach our sons that DEI is oppressing the white man. Or that sexism and racism do not exist. They voted for a man who stokes fear and hatred instead of love. They voted for a person who is honest about his hatred for women, anyone whose skin is not white, LGBTQ people, and any other vulnerable population. Their votes were no mistake. They truly believe we are weaker as a nation when we are a generous nation. Generosity feels threatening to power.
Trump has a long history of criminal behavior. We have seen in just a short time that criminality breeds criminality. And none of us are safe.
I hope that people can evaluate their long-held beliefs. Being right is not a measure of intelligence or superiority. Being willing to change one's mind after incorporating new data IS. Curiosity IS. Saving our democracy will require all hands on deck across all political ideologies. Saving our democracy will require an end to the blame game. It will require a renewed investment in one-on-one relationships with people we don’t want to like. It will also require Democrats to improve to stop preserving the status quo so they can listen to the people and believe their experiences.
Share this post