orichalcum

A highly controversial Republican president achieved an overwhelming electoral victory (520-17) with a supportive Congress. Let's work and wait and investigate for the next two years. I want President Pelosi.

All right, I think, for now, I've managed to purge the venting.

So, as several people have asked, what are constructive things to do and say?

First of all: I recognize today, for the first time, that I am a minority, in my political views, and that I am thus at an automatic disadvantage in political contests. It is not just about GOTV, it is not just about the candidates - there are more people who disagree with me on fundamental levels than agree with me.

However, my minority happens to have much of the power in this country, in terms of our educational levels, our influence over mass (non-news) entertainment media, our relative prosperity, and our inclusiveness and diversity. We live in the states with the largest cities, the most robust economies, and the best prospects for the future. How best can we use that power to achieve our goals and persuade members of the majority to support our political causes?

Well, first of all, by continuing to inject our values into the way we live our lives and into whatever we create. Those of you who are writing great novels and screenplays, put your values of strong female characters, and gay characters, and tolerance and diversity into them. Gone With the Wind had a massive positive influence on opinions about the Confederacy; we need the great uplifting Yankee/Californian novel.

Come to think of it, a good immediate step is Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is a northern, Puritan holiday, which is all about forgiving and welcoming and tolerating extended family members, and sharing food and joy together, in the presence of God if that's your background. Let us have Value-able Thanksgivings that express our ideals, and communicate them to others.

We can also do this financially. I'm applying to 35 jobs, many of them in "red states." Jobs in Ohio and Florida just became much less palatable to me, and any job in a state which denies domestic partner benefits. If I'm lucky enough to get a job in a blue state and a red state, I will likely take the blue state job and tell the red state university my reasons. I'm not going to let them drive me out of my country, though.

Let's use this opportunity to understand the other part of "us," to see what we can compromise with them on and what fundamentals we must fight for. We are the moderate and the leftist members of this country, and we must uphold some fundamental ideals - primarily, the equality of all people before the law, which is about as basic as it gets. But if it takes parental notification and hunting rifles to get us a decent educational system, I'll trade.

Let us reach out internationally, not through our government, but through NGOS, charity work, trips abroad, the Peace Corps, and other groups, showing the rest of the world that, while our President may disregard the opinions of the rest of the world, we are still a generous America of tolerance and understanding.

I'm a patriot, and I love my country, even if I don't understand it today. I hope to have a child before the next presidential election, and I hope he or she grows up in a world of tolerance and freedom. I think that task got harder today, but it also made me face up to the fundamental truth that having the facts on your side is not always enough.

Today is a day to have faith in my values. 175 years ago, my great-great-great-great-great-grandmother graduated from Oberlin College, along with her black, white, male, and female classmates. I honor her legacy, and I will follow it.