I need to write. I need to try to make some sense of what I’ve seen happen today. This isn’t a political blog, but I’m assuming that anyone who’s reading has some concern about people with disabilities, equality, and inclusion. Maybe I shouldn’t make that assumption, so if this post offends you, I apologize in advance.
A few of my Facebook friends said that watching election results tonight has been like watching the Twin Towers come down or the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. In some ways, I agree. It feels as if the world has changed in a few short hours into something I’m not sure I recognize.
But it is something that could have been prevented. We didn’t see the terrorists coming before 9/11. Hurricane Katrina was an act of God. We didn’t foresee how horrible it would be. We did see Donald Trump coming a mile away. He hasn’t lied to us about his bigotry. There are many intelligent people who bought into his rhetoric–people I thought would know better. I still love them and respect them, but their votes today have put people with disabilities in some grave danger. I’m one of them.
We saw him make fun of someone with a disability over and over again on one of the commercials. I won’t even get into his sexist remarks or what he said about building a wall. He wants everyone to be like him and has no apparent sense of empathy or respect for the people he will be sworn to represent.
Many people feel unsafe in “Trump-world.” If you do, I hope someone in your world helps you feel comforted, safe, and understood. We’ll start again tomorrow in a world where we need to learn to coexist and work together. I hope and pray that’s possible.
Finding Our Voices Together 