Election Night: Trump v Clinton
I've gotta spend a few brain bytes on this election that I'm watching. What a contentious primary season it's been! I thought for sure, after all that craziness, one candidate would clearly win. I have friends on both sides of the road, and I can tell you - ALL the Clinton supporters have been vocal and passionate. The vocal Trump supporters tend to be people that I'm not as close to, and I suspected (and the votes are confirming) that a lot of Republicans are not in love with their candidate - or maybe they have a grudging respect - but they still feel strongly that he's a better fit. Strongly enough to make sure they quietly get out to the polls and register their voices.
But what I really want to talk about, as the vocal and passionate supporters are espousing their despair and rage and disgust, is my theory on how we got to this place. I think I first became aware of the brewing backlash during the transgender bathroom debate. There is this whole idea that MY definition of equality and right transcends yours and you WILL accept it, all of it, right this second.
I've been going through a bunch of sales training and I gotta say - ramming something down a person's throat, even if it may be what's best for them, never goes over well. And I think it's unfair to place the blame on the person who lashes out without accepting some responsibility for it.
Insert epic Dark Knight quote here: "You squeezed them, you hammered them to the point of desperation. And in their desperation, they turned to a man they didn't fully understand."
I also think it's unfair to assume that either party is "bad". The only path forward, in any relationship, is understanding. Take that passion and understand why we are so far apart that no candidate easily represents our beliefs. And please, please, stop acting like this is the end of the world. If you understand our government, you understand that no one person can make monumental changes, for good or for ill.
But what I really want to talk about, as the vocal and passionate supporters are espousing their despair and rage and disgust, is my theory on how we got to this place. I think I first became aware of the brewing backlash during the transgender bathroom debate. There is this whole idea that MY definition of equality and right transcends yours and you WILL accept it, all of it, right this second.
I've been going through a bunch of sales training and I gotta say - ramming something down a person's throat, even if it may be what's best for them, never goes over well. And I think it's unfair to place the blame on the person who lashes out without accepting some responsibility for it.
Insert epic Dark Knight quote here: "You squeezed them, you hammered them to the point of desperation. And in their desperation, they turned to a man they didn't fully understand."
I also think it's unfair to assume that either party is "bad". The only path forward, in any relationship, is understanding. Take that passion and understand why we are so far apart that no candidate easily represents our beliefs. And please, please, stop acting like this is the end of the world. If you understand our government, you understand that no one person can make monumental changes, for good or for ill.
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