The Longest Week

Last week was one of the longest weeks I’ve experienced and I know with absolute certainty that I will be one of the least affected when it all shakes out; because I am white, because I am straight, because I fall somewhere within the middle class. Do I think that the outcome of this election will have an adverse effect on my life and on my business? Absolutely. But, I could, with relative ease, put my head down, let the next four (or eight) years pass, and at the end of it I would still be a person of privilege. However, I happen to think that nothing about these next four or eight years should be easy.

Last Tuesday was a huge, and rather sickening reality check and as I watched the greatest con in my lifetime unfold in front of me I realized the depth of my complacency. At the end of the day I didn’t do enough and now we have a giant tangerine tinted turd as our president. (And believe me, if there is one thing I know to be true despite being in a bubble, it’s that Trump is a turd. Any person who bandies around hateful rhetoric, misogyny, bigotry, and racism with unparalleled ease is a turd and anyone who voted for him decided that his foul turdiness wasn’t a deal breaker.)

I’m not trying to make light of this because I do think Tuesday was a terrifying wake up call and a solid check on my own personal complacency. Which is why it’s time to step up and help focus the change that will inevitably happen over the next four (god forbid eight) years. I hope beyond hope that Trump figures out a way to actually help the working class to whom he glibly promised so much change and who upheld their half of the bargain and got him into office. However, I am also prepared to fight against the changes that I perceive as detrimental to our country. I will not normalize hate and I will not accept racism under the fancy title of white nationalism. I will however call my congressman. Constantly. I will make personal adjustments to my life to help slow climate change and stand behind those who are able to make larger changes. I will be a badass lady boss. I will be an ally. I will go to bat for a diverse and multicultural country. And I will utilize my privilege as opposed to using it as a shield.

None of this is new. I’m simply adding my voice.