the first to tell you that these prejudices have existed
in dangerous amounts of intensity for years. In fact,
they have been telling us. It’s horrifically ironic to see
those who've been saying ‘It can’t possibly be as bad
as all that” turn around and ask, “When did America

get so racist? So sexist? So homophobic?” These
mindsets have always existed, and now, a reckless
demagogue and his motley crew of like-minded
opportunists have pressed their advantage, and taken
the country. Democratically.

“LOVE THY NEIGHBOUR”

There has been a message continuously repeated
by politicians, protestors, and pundits alike since
Trump was declared President-Elect: The only way
through this is to love one another. To understand one
another. To hope. To extend empathy.

   
 
 

   

   
   
 
 
 

 

     

It’s not a terrible idea. The last thing anyone wants to
do is pour kerosene on the flaming dumpster fire that
is the present American society. However, we can’t
expect people directly affected by this to embrace
that message uncritically. Black people in America
now have a President-Elect who endorses the
unconstitutional Stop-and-Frisk program. Muslims in
America now have a President-Elect who sees them
as personally responsible for the actions of Daesh, a
twisted branch of Islam that barely resembles what
most Muslims genuinely believe. LGBTQ+ people
in America now have a future Vice President who
endorses shock therapy and other methods of torture
to “cure” them of something they cannot change, and
should not have to. We can keep repeating ‘love each
other,” but we should also extend that empathy and
understanding to those who now have to walk the
streets of their cities, not knowing if the people they
pass by voted with such hatred or at best, such lack

 
 

   
    
  

    
   

   
   
 

 

 
 

   
 
     
 
 

Since the election, like after the Brexit vote, there
has been a rise in hate crimes and incidents of
discrimination across the country from emboldened
bigots. The Trump victory is a victory for the rhetoric
of hate and superiority. It confirms that much of this
behaviour will reap no consequences for those who
participate in it. Hispanic-Americans have been told
to leave the country. Muslim women have had their
hijabs grabbed at, or ripped away entirely. Black
people have been told to get back to the plantations
and start picking cotton. On social media—Twitter
and Facebook especially—reports of violence and
feharassment are on the rise. The infected underbelly
of America has now been exposed. Those who belong
to the alt-right movement have never felt more 7
empowered, more right in their beliefs. How can we
extend understanding, empathy, or friendship to
those who truly believe these terrible things about
the people around them?
ai

   
  

       
   
   
    
 

   
 
    
 
 

 
 

     
 

 
 

 
 
 

 
 

 
   

 

  
   

 
    

=a safety pin on their clothes, in plain sight, as

PLANS OF ACTION, HOPE FOR CHANGE TRUMPLAND, AND BEYOND

There has been a plethora of suggested responses: MMNo one can say for sure what the future is going to
calls for revolution, for recounts, for impeachment. look like.

The idea to impeach Trump might have some real We can guess and we can speculate. We can draw
merit. Over the next few months the President- from historical precedence, and we can make
Elect still has many legal cases to square away, comparisons to pre-Nazi Germany, the rise of
between sexual assault allegations and lawsuits fascism in Italy, or Donald Trump's good friend
for fraud and outstanding debts. These are grounds Putin's iron grip on Russia. But every case is
to suggest he might not be suitable for presidency, different, and disaster to some looks like hope and
opportunity to others. This has always been the
way of things, and sadly the world is not as clear-
cut between good and evil as we would like.

        
 
 
     
    

 
      
 

  

 
 

      
 

    
 
 

       
   

But what happens then? Even if Trump is no longer
a factor, there’s still his running mate, Mike Pence,
to consider. Pence is arguably more dangerous
than Trump. He is easily more fervent and steadfast
in his beliefs, and he has political experience.
Getting rid of Trump does not solve the underlying
problem that has now been exposed: At least half
the country believes in a genuinely dangerous,
horrific rhetoric. That will not go away with Trump
out of the picture. One could argue that Trump's
buffoonery and lack of political experience is
actually helpful, in that he’s hard to take seriously,
and more likely to make mistakes. Lord help us if
he were actually intelligent.

 

 

The worst thing we can do, however, is look away.

 
    
   
 

     

  
 
 

Everyone is exhausted from this election, mentally
and emotionally. No one wants to keep their minds
wrapped up in American politics longer than they
have to, especially when the results have been so
incredibly disheartening. The memes, the New
York Times articles, and the angry rants from
conservatives and liberals alike have cluttered
our Facebook feeds for far too long, and it’s
understandable to want a break.

 
 

       
   
 

   
 

      
      
   
    
  
   
    
 
    
 
    
    
  

   
      

We Canadians live in an awkward privilege, in that
while we feel personally affected by the political
atmosphere of the States, we can—to a certain
extent—step out of the room. We can decide that
we don’t want to watch our neighbours through the
living room window any longer, and we can look to
our own borders. We can say this doesn’t concern
us. But this, unfortunately, is just not true.

 

   

More concerning is the rise of the alt-right
worldwide, thanks to Trump's victory. There have
been reports of white supremacist groups like
Golden Dawn rearing their ugly heads again in
Europe, and even in Canada there are many who
think that Donald Trump's victory is a good thing.
Conservative leadership hopeful Kellie Leitch
recently sent out an email claiming that Donald
Trump’s victory is “an exciting message and one
that we need delivered in Canada.”

 
 
    
 
 
     

The rise of bigotry and the return of the alt-right
is, as previously mentioned, a worldwide problem.
It’s up to us to remain informed, stay educated,
mrecognize our place in the world, and decide what
kind of environment we want to create for the
people around us. Will we stay quiet when we hear
people say that immigrants are taking our jobs,
that Muslims are terrorists, that LGBTQ+ people
are fine when we “don’t have to see it?” Do we
pretend that these mindsets are normal, or just as
valid as acceptance? Do we ignore hatred when it
doesn’t directly affect us?

 
     
   

 

    

This is not just an American problem, and it would
be dangerously shortsighted to see it as such.

     
 
 

 
 

Protests have erupted, not just across the incredibly
divided United States, but around the world as
well. There have been protests in Vancouver this
past week, as well as in London, Tel Aviv, and other
cities across the globe. To my friends in America
during that horrible night of loss and confusion, |
repeated the same message again and again: You
are not alone. The world is with you. = zi

 
  
    

       
 
 

 
   
 
  
 

    

 

   
   

  
  

 

    

The state America is in is a warning. It’s a call
| yand a challenge to the rest of the world, asking
us what we will accept. How much empathy we

   

a

      

 

  

There has been a growing movement to help

 
  
  
  
 
    

fear in the States. People have taken to pinning

      
   
  

   

a simple symbol of solidarity with those most |
affected by this election. The safety pin says, “l am
a safe place. | am on your side.” When | travel to
America this coming weekend, | plan to wear the

a better place for our children, for the people of
Jitoday and tomorrow. ;

 

 
     

The election is over, but the work—the real work—
is just beginning.

Modified image, original by Fibonacci Blue on flickr https://flic.kr/p/NB3y4Y