We the People

Eight years ago, after Barack Obama's first presidential win, our newspaper printed the headline "Change has come." When Sam came downstairs for breakfast, he read that headline, his face lit up. I cried. Today's headline was "Trump triumphs." Once again, I cried. I think 'triumphs' is possibly the cruelest word to use to announce his election. Today is no triumph. Today is a step back. A thousand steps back. Today, hate and cynicism and fear triumph. As much as I dislike Trump, what saddens me even more than his win, is the fact that our country elected him. People saw this angry, insecure, megalomaniac as an answer to our country's issues. I'm in such a stupor today I don't know how to act. I find a little solace knowing so many people share my fear and sadness and disappointment and total .... I don't even know, shock. I want someone kind and smart to tell me how this happened and that everything will be OK. I want to hug Hillary Clinton. I want to apologize to Muslims and Hispanics and my daughter and all her friends who were this close to starting their lives with a black president and a female president. I can't read the paper, I can't watch the news. I don't want to see anyone happy right now. This is a day we should mourn. It's a loss. This is grief.