After the Elections: Taking Time to Recover, Look Clearly, and then ACT, plus Break Through the Divisions

On Wednesday morning, November 7, many of us were deeply saddened – at the least – by many of the electoral outcomes. Now we are left to heal and renew ourselves for the peace and justice struggles ahead. Let’s take some time to rest ourselves in nature, talk with and hug our friends, and cry if we want to! And then let’s start making our informed choices. 

How will we, how do we, as the song says "be the flower in the gun"?  Consider the long list of so many areas at risk: what will you do? Certainly, we no longer have reason to be ignorant about previously concealed vicious attitudes and prejudices. Public statements and behaviors now display what was once hidden, unseen in dark corners. In WILPF, we have our branches and our issue committees, where we can take action to confront these.

In the U.S., most of us will survive these next few years, but many won’t. Around the world, greater numbers are likely to suffer and die – due to the continuing global arms trade, militaristic choices, and continuing inaction on cutting down the use of carbon-based fuels. These are grim realities, yet we are strengthened in our determination by acknowledging them.

Meanwhile, many voters continued to ignore the scientific evidence – and even the extreme weather and wild fires. Were they subconsciously afraid of this dire situation, so they voted for a "strong man" seeking a sense of security?

In the decades ahead, the plants and animals of the planet also must cope with climate change. Depending on how well we mobilize, we can help some to survive, even if many won’t. Prepare to stand strong and take action! We have future generations on our side. They’re counting on us—to pass along to them a world of vibrant and diverse life. 

Also, to build a better future, we know that we want to – and can – improve public education. School board meetings are usually unexciting, but they’re local and important.

Still, I’m asking myself, what happened in this election? Wisdom tells me to look clearly at the objective reality. Multiple governments in Europe and around the world are moving to the far right and experiencing trends to tyranny. I should know better than to think that "American exceptionalism" would shelter us!

Yet how is it that sexism, racism, and fear seem to have such a grip on the U.S. public? Yes, I know the prevailing narrative says the issue was the economy.  But I don’t accept simple and shallow answers. For me what stands out in this election is the power of sexism, especially as we see the many states that elected a Republican to be their male President, while at the same time they chose a Democrat for Senator. 

I also look at the ridiculous claims, even in the mainstream media, that voters in Florida, including the women, "rejected"  that state’s constitutional amendment to expand abortion access. That’s quite a spin, when a strong majority – over 57% – voted for the amendment. Only rarely do majorities in any election reach the tough 60% which is needed to pass a Florida state measure.

Is such reporting the subtle expression of the takeover of nearly all of radio and TV by profit-driven and (in many cases) far-Right forces? That development, along with the rise of social media, calls on us to build trust, contact, and communication by expanding our person-to-person conversations. Through outreach, canvassing, and building a presence in our local communities, we can work to break through the divisions and alienation in our society. 

Such contact can help offset another deeply disturbing societal trend: the crisis of information and media, with too much information from too many unreliable sources. As a result, people can’t discern what’s real from what’s not. Worse yet, with the frequent and repeated speaking of lies, people begin to question if anything can be considered real or true.

If we truly want to move toward a different world, I believe we will have to push ourselves past our own fears, to find ways to reach out and talk more deeply with our families, neighbors, work and social associates, and even strangers about the issues that we care about as WILPF members.  

But right now, this week, may we honor ourselves by doing our best to give our deeply injured selves some small and necessary time to grieve the current and coming losses. And then, renewed, let’s prepare seriously for the heavy work ahead.

Darien Elyse De Lu

President, WILPF US