The Conversations We Might Cultivate Now
11/11/24
Tara - PLEASE STOP
I keep reading and hearing people say that over half the country supports the result of the election. NO THEY DO NOT. Please for the love of all that is holy, get your facts straight.
The population of the US is approximately 335 million. 72.25 million people voted for the republican ticket. That’s NOT 1/2 our country. That’s 21.6% of the country. However it is 50.5% of people who voted in this election. Those are two very different things.
Don’t like that stat? Let’s talk registered voters…Going by 2022 numbers, 161 million people were registered to vote in the US. So we’re looking at 44.8% of registered voters who voted republican this cycle.
Simple math, people, simple math!
We all have Google and it’s free btw.
Not trying to start a debate because FACTS are not debatable but I’m sure some of you will have things to say.
Paul - Tara, for me it’s not about the percentages. It’s strictly about the people that voted that put my rights, women’s rights at stake. With the results of this election; I am a scared Gay man living in this country. Back in the 80’s in the midst of the AIDS EPIDEMIC and being a gay teen I wasn’t this afraid for myself and others. Believe me when I say that won’t argue with percentages. I’m lousy at math; I’m just glad that I could count to 8 in dancing. Much love and respect for you.
Tara - I can’t even begin to understand how you must feel. But my heart aches for you and anyone belonging in a marginalized community. So many people are hurting right now and so fearful for what their future in this country could possibly look like. I am so sorry. I can only hope that good people will do everything they can to protect you and anyone in danger.
Erica - Paul, what gives me a *sliver* of hope is that almost 70% of the entire voting population either 1) did not vote for whatever reason or 2) actively voted AGAINST what's coming. THAT is a majority of the voting population who DOES NOT want or does not know what's coming. We can reach out to our people, to the MAJORITY of people -- to offer support to each other physically/mentally/emotionally ... to **move our resources** (because money talks) to actively support businesses and organizations that still value kindness, fairness, equity & compassion (and remove, where we can, our resources from those corporations that fueled this hate) ... and to make it f***ing uncomfortable and/or impossible for fascist, racist, homophobic, misogynistic, hate-full and death-dealing people to "govern" us. And to do all this with purposeful, determined, fierce joy.
And I say this knowing that I talk a good game 😉 ... and there are so many people who are scared, hurting and in real danger. Your sharing, Paul, I thank you for it, and for you. I teach at Penn State, a yoga course -- and had a student approach me after class, in tears, because she identifies as queer and cannot tell her family-- and won't now, because of their political leanings. She's afraid of losing financial support and also of being targeted when she graduates and leaves in January.
I realize I must do some real soul-searching and wake up .... conjure up whatever bit of strength I can contribute to your safety & peace of mind. May whatever G-d there might still be watching over the poor, oppressed and widowed, give the rest of us strength to be ... rather than death-dealers ... dealers in HOPE and fierce compassion.
To end on that hope & fierce compassion -- I have been so bolstered by women reaching out to me and me reaching out to my women -- that we are all despondent, disillusioned, and miserable -- which is slowly transforming into righteous anger (not in the religious sense, but in the justice & mercy sense) -- which will ultimately transform into a plan, or plans, both individually & collectively.
Paul, if you know of organizations locally (I'm not sure if you're local to Fayette county?) that we can move our physical, knowledge or time resources to, please let us know. For example, I've discontinued Amazon -- in order to move support local vendors as much as possible, especially those who are marginalized and will be negatively affected short & long-term.
Again, thank you for this, Tara and thank you, Paul for who you are and will continue to be in this world. A light.