For those of us who believe in the ideals of democracy -- loosely, 'one person, one vote' and 'equal rights for all' -- last night was a horrible result to a horrible election. But before going any further with those ideas, let's take a moment to admire the tranquil beauty of the High Bridge Park, which runs along the eastern bluff of Washington Heights to the Highbridge, the oldest bridge in the city. (And yes, it's High Bridge -- two words -- Park and the Highbridge, don't ask me why.)
Stephen and I took a walk here on Sunday BT (Before Trump) and, as usual, found it impassible with the mobs of people. Just kidding, it was nearly empty -- a miracle if you consider that Washington Heights is the most densely populated area in the city -- allowing us to pretend that we were in Vermont or Lake Placid or an alternate universe where Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton were not running for president.
Right now, of course, it's easy to blame the opposition, which is obviously permeated with racist, homophobic, misogynistic, xenophobic ignorance, but it's also important to remember that Donald Trump harnessed legitimate anger at the way the working and middle classes in this country have been treated by 'the establishment' (and notwithstanding the fact that Republicans are a big part of this establishment and did much -- or even more! -- than Democrats to create the conditions that fueled Trump.)
Let's also remember that Hillary Clinton was not a strong candidate, and we Democrats have only ourselves to blame for nominating someone s0000 unchill, especially after Al Gore, John Kerry, Michael Dukakis, and Walter Mondale.
Let's also stop forgetting to list gays from the groups and minorities who stand to lose from this election, along with ethnic, religious, women, immigrants, the disabled, the sick, and more.
Our country is increasingly undemocratic in ways that could our agrarian framers couldn't have foreseen. We who live in big cities and big states shouldn't count less than someone who lives in a small town in Alaska or Wyoming. Whether or not the system is completely broken is debatable, but it's definitely not working. (Except for the very rich, for whom life is very good.)
And when we start thinking about 2020, let's not forget what it was like to wake up to Nixon, Reagan, and Bush I and II, and pretend that it can't ever happen again.
I find it difficult to believe that anyone who lived even through Bush II is 'shocked' by the outcome of this election. Can you really be shocked when something happens over and over and over again? Ask yourself: "Am I eight years old or less?" If not, don't be shocked.
The world is filled with beauty; let's remember to find it.