Hillary Clinton is not the president of the United States. An intelligent, articulate woman has still not been elected to this office (which makes no sense to me). She was the hope of many. She was as qualified or more qualified to sit in that seat than many who have gone before. First Lady, Secretary of State, Senator and a life of public service would certainly give her qualities needed to be president. People believed she could fix things.
People also believed she was corrupt. She was given questions to debates ahead of time and had the DNC chair working actively for her against Bernie Sanders in what seems to be a conflict of interest. For some, she represents everything that is wrong with the world.
Donald Trump is a very wealthy man. In a few short hours, he will become the President of the United States. His wealth has allowed him to live in a way that is different from how I live. I don’t own hotels, towers or multi-billion dollar organizations. I don’t grope women. I don’t have the luxury of treating people like that, nor would I want it. He isn’t accountable to anyone because he doesn’t “need” anyone. So, he lives as he sees fit. For some, he represents what is wrong with the world.
He appealed to many because they want to see a change in the “Washington elite.” Their hope is that this inauguration will usher in change for the better and fix the system.
Fix what's broken. We elect candidates to do this. Hopefuls make promises about how things will be different if they get elected. And, at the end of the day, some things do change, and some do not.
I am curious about something.
What if the problem isn’t found in political arenas? What if it isn't found in those who support candidates we don't support? What if the problem isn't found in the Other (those we don’t like or don’t agree with)?
What if WE are what's broken?
What if it’s the way we look at one anOther that's broken? What if it’s the way we think about one anOther that's broken? What if it is the way we talk to one anOther that's broken? What if it’s the way we assume the worse about each Other that’s broken? What if it’s the inability to converse, dialogue and debate in a civil manner that’s broken? What if it's our love for mike-drop tweets that we think ends arguments that are broken? What if it is our love for our enemies to suffer that's broken? What if it is our lack of compassion that's broken? What if it is our willingness to laugh at the pain of Others that's broken? What if it is our unwillingness to hear from Others that's broken? What if it is our willingness to claim Others hate that's broken?
What if WE are what's broken?
There are any number of ills to discuss in our society including our politicians, leaders, healthcare, immigration, equality, education, war, and spending just to name a few. These are massive issues of critical importance. However, in a climate of brokenness, it will be difficult to address these when the WAY we do it is by putting one anOther down, belittling, name calling or a variety of Other means of interacting.
Fixing things is necessary. We have plenty to fix. Maybe by addressing these issues TOGETHER, we can find a way to fix ourselves.
Gandhi said "We but mirror the world. All the tendencies present in the outer world are to be found in the world of our body. If we could change ourselves, the tendencies in the world would also change. As a man changes his own nature, so does the attitude of the world change towards him.”
Over the next four years, we need to work hard at supporting our causes. And we must work hard at fixing ourselves.
America is a beautiful collection of different races, backgrounds, attractions, ideologies, faiths, hopes and dreams. Take a deep look at how you are interacting with the Other. Are you trying to fix them? I believe the WAY we do what we do is as important as WHAT we do. Why? Because I am the Other, and so are you.
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