Also, it hasn't been hard to figure out where people stood, either in their posts to Instagram or Facebook or their likes or dislikes of certain Instagram posts. I respected their right to their opinion and their vote.
So why am I writing now? One because I'm still trying to understand the significance of the new President-elect and how people voted for him. Did they vote from fear, ignorance, their own set of beliefs? Did they look past the racism, the misogyny, the lack of morals and did they see some something that half of the country missed? Or was change so great to them that they were willing to accept his faults and inexperience? I don't know...I'm still cycling through the stages of grief to get to acceptance on this one.
However, last night I posted this to Instagram...and I lost quite a few followers.
I was fine with that ~ you should follow who you want on any social media platform cause I've unfollowed a few folks myself. I was just shocked when I noticed one particular sewist who left me ~ cause there is an app for that. Now I'd figured that there were some ideological differences between us...they'd never liked my #imwithher IG posts or any of my other sewing friends IG posts along those lines. No problem. I'm good with that but then they unfollowed me.
...and I was truly taken aback for a minute...then since I'm still in stage 2 of the grief process...angry. All I could think of was that I talked to you. I gave you advice. I loved and appreciated your sewing, your projects and your family. I admired you and instead of talking to me, you just unfollowed me? You weren't some anonymous sewist that I didn't know...I thought we had a relationship?
Then I was sad...and that's the purpose of this post. How are we as a country going to come together if we don't respect the other's opinions, fears, challenges, hurts? It is so clear that this was an election of emotions and there are some of us who have real fears about our future in America and some of us who are just worried that our privileges are gone...but we should be talking and listening...and we're not...especially this craft nation.
We all have "this something" that we cherish and love to do...shouldn't that bind us together more than our differences? Shouldn't that shared love make us want to listen to our sewing sisters and brothers, the quilt nation and our knitty sisters and brothers? Shouldn't we want to try and understand their fears, to pledge to work for a more inclusive country where every man, woman and child - no matter their race, religion, immigration status or sexual proclivity can feel and actually be free?!
And peeps I'm a born again Christian who believes that the Bible is God's Word. I believe that Jesus gave us free will and that each of us must make our own decisions about these things. I also believe in the love of Jesus Christ ~ love the person and NOT the sin. Love them that don't believe as I do...love the downtrodden and the hopeless, love those that despite fully use us...LOVE!
I'm still not ready to call him my president and I may never be - but that is my right. However, I do believe in our system of government. I do believe in the peaceful transferal of power. I do believe that the statements that President Obama, Secretary Hilary Clinton and the President-elect have made are good to calm the nation and help keep the financial markets stable.
I'm also going to put my money where my mouth is and any organization that I think can be affected by the incoming administration ~ i.e. Planned Parenthood ~ I'm going to make a yearly donation to them.
Mostly though I want to implore us to look past our differences and realize that we all love our country and want what's best for it. Now I know that we are a global society and that I've just written a post based on an American experience. However, since we are living in a global society what happens in one country now affects the world. There are no givebacks or go backs. Technology has united the world we live in...it's hard to be a nation with closed borders now...so there is no going back to when America was great people - i.e. the 50s. We must press forward to becoming the best citizens of America and the world that we can be...or we won't have to worry about aliens, a plague, or climate change killing us...we will do ourselves in.
This will be my only post on this subject. I'm going back to making this a safe space BUT I am leaving the comments section open. Have at it, say what you want...I only ask one thing...be kind and don't bash one another. Now I know you can type/write/chat under the moniker of "Unknown" because anonymous commenters can't comment on my blog. But if you are man or woman enough to say it, own it and sign your name. Oh and no matter how rude you are, I'm leaving ALL of the comments up...even if you talk about my mama! *smile*
Finally I love you ALL in the spirit of Jesus Christ...
...more sewing later.
Thank you, Carolyn, for putting your feelings into words on a sewing blog. You're right that most of us come to your space to wrap ourselves in camaraderie around our mutual love of sewing/fabric/making and not to share our political leanings. However, we've still gotten to know more about you through your posts about your job, your gorgeous grandbabies, your daughter, your weight loss, your choice of colors and prints, your generosity to other sewists, your forays in groups to fabric stores in New York, and on and on.
ReplyDeleteSo why wouldn't we be willing to listen to your views and feelings on this potentially life-changing event that we're all sharing whether we voted for it or not. It would be nice to think that our common interests would open a door to more dialog and understanding. I'll be checking back many times over the next couple days, because I'm hopeful that those who are thrilled at the election results will thoughtfully tell the rest of us why. Perhaps needles and threads can thus help to mend the fabric of our nation.
I'm really touched by your post and I'm a Canadian. I'm a witness of all this foolishness happening in the US. I am sadden to know that it has brought division to the sewing community too. I really thought that members of this community, whom comes from different backgrounds, countries and races were more open to each others differences. Unfortunately, you are not the only sewist with this testimony. Several of my IG friends said the same... They lost followers when they expressed their opinion about what just happened. I'm sad. I thought we were all aware of freedom of speech... Anywhooooo. I'm with you sis. But above all, #imwithJesus. I know he is on the throne, he is watching over us. He will bring peace back again, in his time... I pray you go through the phases of healing, and that you do not get stuck in any particular phase of the grieving process. Take as much time as needed. Blessings.
ReplyDeleteI'm basically feeling the same way Carolyn. I lost followers and gained new ones. It's IG and none of those people have come to my house nor I to theirs. You think you "know" people and you don't. I hope you that you "know" me well enough to know who I cast a vote for even if I didn't say a single word. But anyway, hopefully he ran a campaign based on demagoguery to simply get elected and he'll be a decent president for all of our sake. I have to believe that NO ONE would set out to be a horrible POTUS. Surely with all of the upcoming briefings, we'll see him make 180 degree turns on a lot of issues.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, based on the makeup of the transition team he is assembling, his plans run more to the most extreme and divisive direction rather than moderate and inclusive. It will be a long four years.
DeleteThose of us who are in the same boat applaud you! 18% of the people got this man elected, not a majority but we are stuck with it. I too will be contributing in a positive way to PP and other causes to keep us safe and sane for all people of all colors and races because we are all brothers and sisters.
ReplyDeleteHi Carolyn
ReplyDeleteI've followed your sewing silently - I admire your attitude and style - but had to comment on this. Thank you for expressing your opinion and fighting the good fight. not my president either.
Very well said. Even worse than the outcome of the election is how the whole process has brought out extremes of judgement and fear of the other on both sides.
ReplyDeleteI think not accepting the newly elected president is divisive. I did not vote for Obama and suffered through his policies. But I respected him as president. In a democracy, you agree to accept election results and accept the new president. Like it or not, Trump is your president, and you owe him respect.
ReplyDeleteRespect is earned, not given or owed. After the hateful things he has said and done, he has to earn respect from all Americans. I respect the office, not the man. Do you think if Clinton had won this would be any different?
DeleteWhere there any riots when Obama won?
DeleteYep. Both in 2008 and 2012. We seem to have short memories.
Deletehttp://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/08/us/anti-obama-protest-at-university-of-mississippi-turns-unruly.html
Thanks, Carolyn, for your lovely post, remarkable for its lack of demonization of Trump voters, and articulation of your own feelings and ideas in such a beautiful, civilized manner.
DeleteI am of two minds about "not accepting Trump as my president." I understand cognitively that he was fairly elected, within the rules of our system. I respect those rules, so he is my President-Elect, and will be, sadly, my President. I respect the office, but he has not yet earned my respect in that office; I will have to wait and see if that can happen, and in the mean time take actions (writing to my Democratic senators to use filibustering not as revenge for the past 8 years, but to block the most egregious appointments: e.g. climate change denier for head of the EPA).
I think it's understood that "Not My President" means there are people who didn't support Trump and don't agree with what he showed the country during his campaign and before that. He's a well known public figure and has been for thirty years now,so let's not pretend that he has not shown us his true self.
DeleteAs for the respect, I don't respect him. Does this mean that I vandalize property in the name of protest? Of course not!
Let's not confuse the meaning of the word respect with something that means more. "I don't respect him" means simply that. I don't feel a deep sense of admiration for abilities ,qualities , or achievements.
I rarely comment, but I wanted to say that you are a class act.
ReplyDeleteHi Carolyn
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful post. You have written exactly what I am feeling. I am still having a hard time believing this next four years will be anything but a disaster. Is this what our country has come to? I am amazed that some of my friends voted for Trump. I am looking at people in a different way. It makes me sad.
I mainly comment anonymously because I'm super dumb about social media and don't even know what some of those choices are -- Typepad? OpenID? They are mysteries to me.
ReplyDeleteBut anyway, I am a big Hillary fan and am pretty devastated right now.
On the topic of donations, I have a friend's birthday party to go to next week, and instead of a physical gift, I'm going to make a donation to a pro-woman organization in her name (I haven't decided which one yet). I know she will like this and won't care about not having a present to open.
Best wishes to you!
Ann
Must add... when you say "How are we as a country going to come together if we don't respect the other's opinions, fears, challenges, hurts?" By saying Trump is not your president, you are NOT RESPECTING my opinion. I am a Christian too and believe life in all it's stages should be cherished and protected, and THAT is the main reason I voted for Trump.
ReplyDeleteHow is expressing her opinion not respecting yours? I come across this all the time and it baffles me. So if you have an opinion then I'm not allowed to have an opinion about it? What I understood Carolyn to say was that the disengagement/unfollowing was the problem, not people disagreeing with her.
DeleteI'm struggling with this now. I was so angry with people who said of President Obama that he's "Not my President." How could they say that? He's president of ALL the people!
DeleteAnd yet, I don't feel like Trump is my president. Part of the difference, I think, is they way the two men approached the position. From his first appearance on the national stage, Barack Obama has emphasized that we are ONE nation, indivisible. That others have refused to work with him, that Republican party leaders conspired, literally on the night of his first inauguration, to prevent all compromise, block all legislation, was beyond his control. Trump, on the other hand, ran on and celebrated division, discrimination and hate. And his party, primed by 8 years of intransigence, embraced his contempt for the Constitution and the rule of law. Vote for Trump! He'll blow it all up! It is almost as if some people decided they would rather end this 240 year experiment in Democracy than share it with people who looked or believed different than them.
I have never been so ashamed.
I have never commented before, but I have to come out of lurking in the background to say "thank you". He is not my president either. I have been feeling overwhelmed by the sadness of hate winning an election. Thank you for spreading a bit of love and acceptance.
ReplyDeleteI just hate that the contentiousness of our political world has manifested itself in the "safe haven" of the sewing world. This is my escape from those things that disturb me. I guess there's to be no escapism in this world now. I wish you and all healing thoughts and hope we can all get back to sewing soon.
ReplyDeleteI am also coming out of lurking to thank you for writing this post. I am angry. I accept that the president-elect was elected by a democratic process. I do NOT accept him or his hate, and I will not unify to support him. But I will love my friends and family and community regardless of how they voted, because I refuse to let his hate infect me too. I love your donations idea, and will join you in donating to PP, and I love your blog and the community you create around it!
ReplyDeleteYou've said it well and expressed the most basic of human needs in a kind and thoughtful manner. We all want to be safe, secure and free to express ourselves. I applaud you and hope in the days, weeks, months to come we remember to speak and act with compassion, kindness, respect and try to remember that words matter.
ReplyDeletePlease wake up and stop believing the media. Nobody hates you. The people who voted for him did not vote out of hate for anyone, but out of love for our country and our freedoms. God bless everyone, of every race, national origin, age, and social status. Take time to read each party's platform and make an effort to understand others. Above all, let us relate to one another as children of the same God.
ReplyDeleteAt least some of them hated us.
DeleteThat's been clear - all over the internet, on the streets, in conversations. Not just the media.
We are all children of the same God - so let people that are experiencing pain, experience it.
As you know, I lost a chunk of followers on IG. About 1% of my overall total but still, it is eye opening.
ReplyDeleteI think too many people do not understand that the America they live in is NOT the same America that Blacks live in. So we aren't just looking at policy we may not like. We have these nationlist groups rising up and taking Trump's words as support for their cause.
As you saw, we have Latino school children being taunted with "Build a Wall".
My own son has lost count at how many times he's been called a nigger by someone. He is 16. We live in Minneapolis metro for goodness sake. I can't even imagine a less progressive city or state.
*WE* cannot escape it from our daily lives. Trust me. Blacks in this country have spent every freaking moment hushing up. Going along. Being complacent. And what does it get us? Just 50 years since the era of Jim Crow you have the next PRESIDENT of the UNITED STATES lumping together blacks as "lazy" --I'm sorry, "The Blacks" is how he put it -- and Latinos as "rapists". He is despicable. He is deplorable. He has no policies, no politics. HE HAS NO EXPERIENCE HOLDING PUBLIC OFFICE!
As a woman I am fearful.
As a black person I am fearful.
As a black woman I am downright petrified.
So yes, for the sake of myself, my children, this nation...I hope he has a successful presidency. We are all doomed if he doesn't. But I cannot lie and kumbaya and say "everything's going to be okay" when I truly don't believe that it will be.
well said. Maybe if you can keep saying it some more may come to a better understanding. I can only barely believe that anymore, but I still hope.
DeleteSo well said. I could not believe Donald Trump was even running for president back a year and a half ago. What did he ever do for any one in the past 50 years I thought. It was a joke, a laughable stunt that would quickly go away, or so we hoped. Coming on the heels of such a wonderful, intelligent man as president Obama it had to be a bad dream. He's not my president and I've had quite a few in my lifetime. This was not about policies and platforms. It became a hate filled rant against everything I hold dear.
DeleteI am stunned that people voted in a man who has evinced such lack of character. I know many Christians who voted for him, not because they respected him or his opinions, but because they think of the Republican party as their party and ally in certain areas. I am going to spend the next 4 years trying to make sure that programs and causes important to me are funded and my opinions are k own to my representatives. Oh, and a great big plug for the ACLU. They will need help fighting for your rights.
ReplyDeleteOur president until January has just asked us all to "practice kindness." I did not vote for either candidate; I did a write-in instead. I am the daughter of legal immigrants who waited for years for their number to come up on the quota. I am a fiscal conservative who has worked for every penny and funded my own retirement. Don't bring up Social Security. It wouldn't keep my dog in food. I have two sisters who have had abortions. I don't approve of that decision. We do have, and have had for a long time, access to birth control. I have had a liberal president for the last 8 years. I can't say I always agreed with some of his positions but I have great respect for him as my president. Why can't the "other side" treat their "opponents" with more consideration?
ReplyDeleteI hope you realize that pregnancies occur even with use of BC.
DeleteOooh! Maybe we should treat Donald Trump, President Elect *the same* as he treated POTUS for 8 years?!
DeleteI LOVE THAT IDEA! Thank you!!!
You are part of the problem, not a part of the solution. You want me to support your position but you can't seem to support mine. Yes. Donald Trump deserves my respect simply because he will be holding the highest office in the land, nay the world. My sisters got pregnant because they weren't using birth control. Not permitted by the Catholic Church. So they chose a "better" solution?
DeleteAnnie, I'm really confused. What does your sisters decision making have to do with any of this?
DeleteI am really struggling with the idea I have to respect Trump. Respect the office, yes. The institutions. The process. The decision that the US people made. All of those.
But a man who admits to enjoying sexually assaulting women? Who says racist, hurtful, vicious things? Why should anyone have to respect *him*? It's not about supporting each others positions: some positions are not supportable. We are respecting the process.
But you have the whole game now - the house, the senate, the presidency, a new SC appointee. I really hope the right doesn't drop the ball. Because there aren't any "checks" in place for at least another 2-4 years. And that, is terrifying.
I don't think she was asking you to support her position. It seemed like you were saying in your original comment that abortion doesn't need to be available because we have birth control (that's how I also read it) and she was pointing out correctly that pregnancies still happen with all forms of birth control. It sounded as if you were making the statement generally and not in particular about your sisters.
DeleteUmmm Annie...I had an abortion due to a pregnancy that occurred after I had my tubes tied. I was advised not to have any more children (hence the tubal ligation) due to the high risk nature of my previous pregnancies. Yet it happened anyway, and I am grateful that my doctor and I got to make the decision. Not that the circumstance makes any difference since it's a legal procedure and while this sounds abrupt, it doesn't require your moral approval.
DeleteI too am a fiscal conservative (but progressive on social issues) who funded my own retirement. My sister? She didn't do so well in the job market. Her husband became disabled after serving in an elite military unit. They rely on Soc Sec to make ends meet. Are you saying that it's okay to reduce or cut that off and put them at risk? I don't think that's right. Promise made, Promise kept, right?
Please consider that when you are telling someone that they "are part of the problem", that you are using rhetoric also. Black and white only exist in art. In life, there are so many variables, so many walks that we have never taken and far too many situations that we judge without the compassion required to fulfill the promise of this struggling nation. We have got to be active listeners, going into conversations without a judgement in our pockets. I want better than we have and this one powerful tool to get there.
I did vote for Trump. He is not our Savior. My hope is that he can make positive changes for our country. The main reason I did not vote for Hillary is because I believe innocent people lost their lives in Benghazi under her watch. Regardless, I pray for our countrymen. We all need it.
ReplyDeleteI'm a staunch Republican but even I'm having trouble referring to him as my next President. I just don't know what is going to happen and I'm not as hopeful as I was the last time we voted for a President. This election season has been the worst in terms of rancor and incivility. The only positive thing I can think of is that our enemies don't know what he's going to be like either. Thank you for speaking out.
ReplyDeleteTheresa in Tucson
My heart goes out to you!!! Big hugs!!!
ReplyDeleteA very thoughtful post. I too am trying to figure out why and how we as a nation can go forward. I too plan on making sure my voice is heard on the issues that I feel are important. My representatives are going to hear from me on those issues. I hope that others will join me.
ReplyDeleteOne other thought--all of you who did not vote, SHAME ON YOU.
Back to sewing
Annette
You put your finger right on it, Annette. Only 56.8% of the eligible voters voted. (For comparison, in 2000 it was 54.2%; in 2004 60.4%; 2008 62.3%; and 2012 57.5%.) With the most contentious election in recent history, the percent voting went DOWN compared to the last three elections. So sad.
Delete(Yes, there have been recently enacted barriers to voting in many places, and yes, many voted but just left the presidential box blank. Even given that, there are still many, many millions who Just.Didn't.Vote.)
Keep on keepin' on, Carolyn. I don't do IG, but I'll always follow your blog.
(What would happen if we could get a sewist into the White House?)
I'm a middle-aged white woman and I am scared. I'm scared for my children and grandchild. I don't want them to suffer through the possible repercussions of this administration. I can't understand the reasoning for voting for this man and I want to. I asked someone I know that voted for him and her response was that it was a very close decision. I kept hammering for a reason and finally got the answer that she was afraid of Obama's policies being extended regarding allowing more than 60,000 refugees into our country. I'm trying to accept that, but I'm struggling. I'm embarrassed for our country. I'm afraid for our country. I'm so so disappointed and saddened. I keep telling myself "4 years. We can get through 4 years." I hope that is true and that we still have a country in 4 years. For the record, I am a veteran. Happy Veteran's Day to me. I didn't serve my country to support the policies this man has proposed. I like the idea of donating to PP because they will need our support.
ReplyDeleteI am scared for myself and my children (and, of course, for my countrymen), but I won't have to be scared for my grandchildren. You see, my son texted me election night (or really, the next morning at 3:00 AM) that I would have no grandchildren. He would not be bringing an innocent into a world ruled by Trumpism. I'm crying now, as I do every time I think about it. Not for myself so much as for my son and his wife, and every other young person who feels so frightened, so bereft, that they can't imagine a future now.
DeleteAnd thank you for your service. It makes me doubly determined to right this thing so it won't have been in vain.
Dear Carolyn
ReplyDeleteI have followed your blog for years and I have always found it so informative and your personality shines through. I had a sewing blog for a very little while because there are sensitivities around my job and, irrespective of my focus being craftng, little snippets of our lives come across. I think that's actually what makes the medium engaging, we feel we 'know' that person just a little bit. So, whether you express your political views overtly or not, your readers would not be surprised by your views on this election - you are far more than an expert in TNT patterns! I live in the UK and, as you know, we've had very similar issues regarding the EU referendum - I remain devastated personally about that vote and very concerned about how that will pan out. I have withdrawn from social media interaction, and even personal engagement with some people and it's not been a decision I've made lightly. I can accept a difference of opinion, I can respect a different set of priorites but I cannot accept, and will not stand idly by and accept, hatred and intolerance and I fear that, whilst the majority of Brexit voters might not have this view, the door has been opened for a scary minority to voice opinions and display behaviours that are racist, sexist and confrontational. This has lead to a great deal of friction, an alarming increase in hate crimes and I don't know how we get on an even keel with such uncertainty going forward. So, I do not group all Brexit voters together but I see many of them being very defensive about being associated with those amongst their number with extreme views.
I try to keep dialogue going - that's how we find a way forward, but some people will have their values firmly fixed so you just need to let them go, and do all the positive things you suggest. I have family in the States for whom some of the vile things Mr Trump has said have very personal ramifications. I do believe, if you live in a democracy you should respect the process but I think respect for an individual has to be earned - irrespective of who they are. We should not judge anyone on their appearance, ethnicity etc but it is absolutely reasonable to judge someone's behaviour and the things they say.
Sorry, this is a really long reply but I admire you enormously for putting this post out there.
A very big hug from the UK x
There's an old adage that says "Politics and Religion make strange bedfellows". The Trump Campaign slogan 'Making America Great Again" gained much support from Americans whose view of 'greatness' is subjectively defined and aligns itself with Mr. Trump's ideals. There is a universal, more objective, politically safe view of greatness--a view that looks good on paper--it's called the U.S. Constitution. Many amendments have been added since that time in order to address specific rights. My American view of greatness doesn't align with Trump's slogan. He knows nothing about my African American sixty year old female journey. I really don't think he cares to know me or my world view. While I don't expect the government to adopt a 'Burger King -- have it your way' approach towards it citizens--I do expect a modicum of respect and consideration toward ALL Americans. That is my political view, now here is my biblical view: "He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you except to be just, and to love [and to diligently practice] kindness (compassion), and to walk in humility before God [setting aside any overblown sense of importance or self-righteousness]? Micah 6:8.
ReplyDeleteBrought tears to my eyes. Beautifully written Robin.
DeleteI felt this same fear 8 years ago when Obama was elected President. I had seen other men elected to the office that I did not like, but this was the first time I was truly afraid. I would be afraid now if Clinton had won the election. I guess the thing that puzzles me the most is that Clinton supporters seem to be blind to her faults. Trump's faults (and we all have them) are played up, but it seems her supporters see no faults in her or her past. I am truly puzzled by this. I don't know what kind of President Trump will be. I pray he will be good for the country. Perhaps it is time to get away from professional politicians. Our government has turned into a big business. Perhaps it will take a businessman to pull us out of debt. I don't know. It saddens me to see so many use this as an excuse to vandalize and wreck havoc on people and property. Respect is a two way street. Tolerance and inclusion should also include those with whom we disagree.
ReplyDeleteWhen did President Obama call for his supporters to beat up those who disagreed with him? When did he call a whole ethnicity rapists and murderers? When did he call women "fat pigs" or brag that he could grab their genitals with impunity? When did he boast that he could murder someone in plain sight and not lose his supporters? These are not run-of-the-mill faults or exaggerations. They are calls for violence. This election is different because it is not about policy differences or being upset because one side lost. It is about how America elected bigotry and hatred to the White House.
DeleteI agree LM. Being afraid that liberal policies will be put in place, even if they adversely effect your life, is very different than being afraid that people will engage in violent acts condoned (at the very least) by the president. On the other point I don't think I'm unaware of clinton's faults although some of the "faults" are made up. Not sure how we deal with that aspect of the problem (everyone having different "facts"). But for all her faults (like the failure of neoliberal policies, her own racial bias (I hope we're all working on ourselves in that regard), her sloppiness with email security) I think she would in all ways be a less dangerous president than Trump.
DeleteCarolyn,
ReplyDeleteThank you for your post. It was, as always, well written.
Several people told me that the wished that the Republican candidate he been any other person running other than Trump. The voted for him because they disliked Clinton's policies.
Mrs. Clinton had a very graceful speech on Wed. I didn't hear it all, but the part I heard was wonderful. Our country is based on peaceful transfer of power. We must remember that. If we don't like the way our country is being run in DC, we must VOTE! We must run for office and vote!
I disagree with some of the things people do or say in their various protests in our country. I defend, totally, their right to have a peaceful demonstration and express their opinion! That is what makes our country great!
May God Bless You and Comfort You. I will keep you in my prayers!
I'm an infrequent commentator here but would like to weigh in, excuse me also because I'm from the UK abd therefore am just a bystander to the election results over there. I quite respect your post that Trump is not your president, if you didn't vote for him, will he ever be? I didn't vote for Cameron (and well nobody got to vote for May) so they are not my prime minsters, it's quite okay to decry your leader and still be passionate about your country. I Digress a little from what I actually came to say though, which was to comment on the "turning away" on social media from views that we don't agree with - I did it myself leading up to the election results when someone on IG was a trump supporter and I was just like "get off my feed". Now I don't think I'd actually 'spoken across the webs with that person and I was a bit like it's my feed I'll see what I want. But directly on results day, I saw a post on twitter which basically said that it's no good shouting into social media because we tend to create a mirror of our own interests (for me that would be left leaning political types) so I look at it and I'm like oh the election will be okay people won't really vote for trump or they won't really vote to leave the EU that's just silly. It appears that actually what we need to do is reach out to those whose views differ from ours or at least keep them showing up in our social media world so that actually we are aware of how much disenfranchised people feel, so that if we feel able to we can engage with them. I think both the brexit and US election results are a direct consequence of this, I don't doubt that race played its part for some too but I think that disenchantement with all leaders make people 'protest vote'and actually maybe we all need to find better ways to effect the change we think needs to happen rather than leaving up to a once in a four year chance to show how we feel.
ReplyDeleteThank you for this post. If nothing else, it is heartening to find that many of the sewing folks I follow online and on social media are just as sickened as I am at how dangerous the political climate has become for women, people of color, non-Christians, immigrants, and the economically disadvantaged, etc., etc.
ReplyDeleteNow is the time to channel our disappointment, our anger, and our disgust into action: support causes and organizations that need our support more than ever (as you plan to do), and make your voice heard to your representatives and refuse to let ours become an America fueled by distrust and hatred. Thank you for this post, Carolyn. Truly.
-Abbey
I am a long time reader- 1st time commenting.
ReplyDeleteI have heard many responses from people who voted for that man- who state that they don't agree with his racists comments- you voted for him, all of him. In my mind-a vote for him means that racist remarks, bigotry, misogyny and general disdain for human life are okay . It was more important to trump supporters that he build a wall to separate rather than build bridges to unite .
I am the wife of a black man and the mother of a bi-racial daughter. Because of the result of this election - I question everyday- whomever I meet-"are you a trump supporter"? I cried all day Wednesday for the lose of the country that I thought I knew.
I"m sorry but if MY opinion isn't that same as yours- it doesn't mean I'm disrespecting you- it means I have the right to MY opinion.
He is NOT MY PRESIDENT and never will be-he has done NOTHING to deserve my respect.
I am also a wife of a black man. We live in a conservative rural area, and I'm scared. We've gotten looks before, but after reading about the hate crimes taking place I realize more than ever that this country is not safe for lots of people. I will continue to exercise my 1st Amendment rights to peacefully protest.
DeleteCarolyn - I've been following your blog for a number of years and love reading your thoughtful posts.
Wanted to add my name to the above comment(since I don't have a blog )
ReplyDeleteKathryn Lee
Dear Carolyn,
ReplyDeleteYou are a beautiful soul and I appreciate your sharing of yourself. I am white but I grew up as a minority. It's an odd feeling to both have unspoken 'privilege' (which I can say I have learned to recognize) and to feel, as a minority, that you are not always accepted for you but judged, somehow, as 'not belonging'. I say this because I think white rural america doesn't get it; at least, the relatives I interact with don't.
Privilege is an invisible, unconscious shield they have against the travails of life and they when they feel it disintegrating-- due to changes they don't feel they can control such as gay marriage, 9/11 & Isis attacks, boys in girls restrooms, social upheaval associated with poverty, immigration--they get angry and blame.
Unfortunately, their lives' travails are due to wealth disparity and being in the 99%, along with everyone else. So they hope a cult leader with Twitter policies will fix their precious privilege, but he can't because taking away ObamaCare and spending billions to push out immigrants and giving rich parents a greater break on child care and destroying the public education system and getting rid of unions will increase the wealth disparity.
And as long as the 1% can control our elections, we are susceptible.
I do not reject the Trump voter. I reject trump. He is NOT mine either.
More than him, I reject letting the 1% control our country. It is not democratic. Many things in our history have been undemocratic and we have overcome them. This also will we overcome, because I do believe in the goodness of people, no matter who got their vote.
And because of people like you, Carolyn, I feel hope.
Lisa
"Privilege is an invisible, unconscious shield they have against the travails of life ...Unfortunately, their lives' travails are due to wealth disparity and being in the 99%, along with everyone else"
DeleteThis. This. THIS!
I guess I'm not very smart, but who are the 1% you are talking about? The wealthy? If that's the case, I don't understand how you can say they controlled the election when based on what I read at the NY Times Clinton and pacs raised about 5 times as much money as Trump and they spent most of it so technically Clinton outspent Trump over 4 to 1 yet Clinton didn't win.
Deletehttp://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/us/elections/election-2016-campaign-money-race.html?_r=0
Thank you. I have cried, raged, cried, raged, and cried some more. My heart hurts, we are betrayed. I wanted better. I wanted to believe that we were better. I wanted to believe that women wouldn't allow the monster inside the castle. I am wrong. The tears will dry. Resolve will replace despair. We have a lot of work to do.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your candid and thoughtful post, Carolyn, and I'm sorry for the pain that drove you to it. It is not an opinion that this man spewed violent, bigoted and hate-filled rhetoric during his campaign, it is fact, and there are many of us who cannot support nor respect that kind of thinking or behavior. I count myself as one who will now double-down on working for inclusion and equality and creating a country that is safe and free for all.
ReplyDeleteUnsubscribing doesn't equate to not allowing or acknowledging your freedom of speech, it just means your ideas are being politely ignored. That's really how this election got won. Many people have politely shut up about not wanting open boarders because you get accused of racism, or shut up about being pro- life because you will be accessed of not respecting women's bodies and so on with many many topics, and because the media is predominantly liberal it can some times feel as though you are the only one who has THESE concerns and public arguments have been silenced for this side of the opinion. This was a way for people to have a say. I don't like the way Trump talks and I don't like Clinton said policies and I couldn't imagine purposefully electing either of them, but, I have always had a habit of looking at the good a candidate might bring the country after the election is settled. In Trump I am hopefully that he will keep federal funds from sanctuary cities as he has outlined in his plans, and make immigration laws stricter abdominal better enforced. I lived in a sanctuary city for 30 years and it affected my families economics. Moving to a non sanctuary city drastically improved our economic reality. I've had my hand on the pulse of this issue for 20 years and I remember wondering why in the world would the previous Clinton bring such a horrible policy as NAFTA.
ReplyDeleteSo in other words...you hope he preserves your Privilege?
DeleteI am sad and angry about this election, because of the divisiveness of it. This started when W ran, and as a democrat I am ashamed at how we piled on the encouragement of taking sides and hating the other through the whole process, and I think it is going to take a very long time for our country to recover from the last years. I don't know that we will ever have as gracious a person as Obama as president for many years; it seems to have been wasted on an angry mob looking for someone to blame, and I am blaming both parties for this.
DeleteI live in a sanctuary city and am proud that we can act as Christians with charity for those who need it. That's what this country does best.
I will spare you my opinion on what your faith is good for otherwise.
So your family is more deserving of a chance at financial stability than any others..? Got it.
DeleteI have followed your blog for awhile now and follow many others whom I suspect feel your pain. I rarely leave comments but feel compelled to respond to your post.
ReplyDeleteFor the record, I doubt I will ever stop following your blog. If I had a Facebook/IG/Twitter etc. I wouldn't 'unfollow' you there either. I enjoy your positivity and candidness, identify with you in a similar size fabric stash, and love to experience your personality and talent through the makes you share. I also appreciate reading your perspective on the world. Like other blogs I follow, I reflect on what you say (sewing related or otherwise), analyze it against my own personal beliefs and experiences and draw my own conclusions. I've lived enough life to know that very few people ever completely agree about everything all the time and that a single viewpoint often doesn't work for everyone. I'm also hesitant to paint anyone with too broad a brush. I don't know any of the candidates personally and wouldn't call any one amoral. She who is without sin and all that. But if that's how you truly feel, I respect your courage for expressing your viewpoint publicly and won't think worse of you. Because honestly, sewing is more important to me than politics.
And that's part of what makes us so lucky to be Americans. If we lived in China we might not be able to have this discussion and you would not have been able to post a similar image to your IG without fear for your own personal safety.
I worked as part of the federal government under the Obama administration and have worked with a State Dept led by Hillary Clinton. I am a woman. My family is Latino. I received my primary education in predominantly black schools. I have dear friends and family that are part of the LGBTQ community. My brother beat cancer with Obamacare coverage. I believe in climate change. I support universal human rights. I voted for Trump.
Why Trump? In the interest of brevity I won’t list all my reasons, but suffice it to say that the substance matters more to me than the man. Had I the confidence that Hillary Clinton’s administration would have addressed my most important concerns (primarily economic), I would have overlooked her shortcomings and gleefully cast my vote for the first female POTUS.
You may disagree with me, but it has been my experience that a single person does not totally dictate every aspect of American governance (thank you Founding Fathers). Without the will of the majority of the people, a leader won't continue to lead for very long. As a citizen of this great nation, I consider it my responsibility to use its democratic system to hold its leaders accountable for issues that are most important to me. Just as you pledged your support for Planned Parenthood, I will conscientiously support businesses that create jobs for Americans as well as those that provide fair and safe working conditions for workers worldwide. And as long as we all participate fairly and frequently, I believe that the country as a whole will over time become the better for our widespread and diverse participation. There’s always room for improvement and we’ll only get there together.
Your dismay over the election is real and I won’t belittle that. I simply hope that you will eventually give the incoming administration a chance to try a different approach to some (doesn’t have to be all) policies. In the meantime, if you don’t mind, I’ll keep following and admiring your sewing fanaticism from afar.
You are a very interesting juxtaposition J Harps. I've never heard a Trump supporter talk about their economic concerns beyond a very nebulous "bring back our jobs" without any actual plans, policies, or changes in their personal spending habits to support such a statement. When I ask for further detail the response is more or less a repetition of "well I just deserve a better job". And of course they do. But these folks who want good jobs (i.e. Good pay) want to shop at walmart (where others in their community are paid very little and most of the products are not made here). They lament the decline of rural areas but then balk if they have to pay more than $1.50 for a gallon of milk. This seems like a huge disconnect. American manufacturing would mean higher prices for the goods produced. A rural landscape of farms would mean more expensive food. Do you see this disconnect with other Trump voters you talk to? Or am I missing something?
DeleteAnother curious question. Not at all disrespecting your thoughts or beliefs and truly respect the freedoms that we have in America.
DeleteBut when you look at his record e.g. Complaining about jobs being sent overseas and goods not produced in America...while HIS OWN businesses produces goods in china and Mexico, is this not concerning? Claiming to want to help the working poor by mass deportation, while he himself has cheated working class Americans out of wages. Does this not concern you? His talks of taxes and the deficit while he himself BRAGS about not paying income tax. Does this not concern you?
Really good points KS_Sews.
DeleteThanks for having the patience to read through my essay!
DeleteAnnie Blackwell: I'll be honest, not many 'other Trump voters' I speak to but that may just be my introvertedness showing! And you're right, few people have the foresight to think about the ripples their everyday decisions make. That's why it's incumbent upon me and for anyone going against the grain to communicate why they don't buy at Wal-Mart and, especially important for me, why I make most of my clothing. It's been my experience that once people realize the impact they can have in making a positive change, they at least think twice about their consumer behavior. The reduction in CFCs and aerosols is an example.
KS Sews: You do bring up some very good points. I think he'll have some real challenges gaining support at the very least if he doesn't change his business positions and if not, the American people to say nothing of the media will hold him accountable. Trump criticized his opponent for not changing the tax code; if he fails to close some of the loopholes for the rich I'd say he'll be taken to task for that too. Seems like the current news cycle is already talking about the President Elect changing the extremist rhetoric and replacing it with some compromise. After working in government, I guess I did have a sharper ability to separate the wheat from the chaff in both campaigns. There's just certain things I knew were never going to happen despite all the best intentions in campaign promises. Not being cynical just being real.
Thanks again ladies. Your command of the issues is refreshing.
You say, "Trump criticized his opponent for not changing the tax code;" Are you aware that she (along with the rest of Congress) actually DID change the tax code to remove the loophole he used to avoid taxes?
DeleteI'm also confused and amazed that people buy his argument that we need less regulation, while he says of Clinton's criticisms of his amoral-bordering-on-criminal business practices, "Why didn't you pass laws to stop me?" Um, aren't those the regulations you want less of? So you can be even more corrupt???
People - we can ACT! Or, at least, sign a petition on www.change.org (my link didn't work) - 3,000,000 total signatures needed, and 2,850,000 already gathered, reminding us all that not all Electors to the Electoral College are bound to their states' votes. They meet on December 19th.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you. And I'm not with him. In ten elections, the person I have voted for has not won six times. And for the four times that "my" candidate has won, they had to operate the majority of their presidency with the opposite party in control of Congress. Thus the "so-called" liberal agenda has only been possible for TWO years out of forty! It's amazing that the conservative/right citizens consistently overlook that fact, and consistently whine about the media. Furthermore, we have had a conservative majority on the Supreme Court for nearly 50 years. This in spite of the fact that the majority of Americans actually believe in the majority of so-called "liberal" policies.
ReplyDeleteIn spite of never having my voice or belief represented for decades, I never felt scared after past elections. Now I'm petrified (as well as sickened). Your post was thoughtful and non-inflammatory. If you lost followers, I can't imagine any of them will be missed.
I am Canadian! I am also terrified!
DeleteCarolyn, I feel for your pain and hope healing will come soon.
I have followed your blog for a couple of years now and always look forward to reading what you have to say, whether it is about sewing, your family etc.
I agree with Mountain Woman. The people who stopped following you because of your political views are the ones who are losing not you!
May God bless you and your family...
Thank you for your commentary. I voted for Bernie and then Hillary. I wasn't really pleased with any candidate but Trump was just not acceptable. Trump voters that I spoke to felt that he was going to get rid of Washington as it exists and change it into a place with a hard core conservative agenda (including religion). Rural people do not feel that DC respects them. They are correct. We can see that in all of the memes that indicate that Trump voters are dumb. Well if anybody has looked at the transition team, Trump is dredging up old expired politicians. So the swamp is not being drained, just churned. It's to be expected. I could vent for a long time, but won't. I'm your basic slightly left of center person. It's going to be a tough four years.
ReplyDeleteCarolyn, I have nothing to add, or rather nothing short enough for a comment, but wanted to thank you for posting your thoughts, which are close to my own. I wish your friend/acquaintance had talked with you. Somehow people seem afraid of talking--and listening--to one another. And really human connection is what changes minds and hearts.
ReplyDeleteIt seems such a shame to stop communicating with someone, especially someone with a shared love of sewing, over political views. You always come across as approachable, warm and intelligent to me, so the unfollowers are the losers here. I think many people get fired up about politics when all they really know of it is from memes, many of which consist of made up statistics and quotes. I've seen it on my FB page and it's horrifying. Australian politicians have now started talking about what happened in the US election and how we can stop it happening here (although we do have one Trump-like political party here that is gaining power). It is making politicians sit up and take notice of groups that may have previously been largely ignored. I just hope the world's leaders take the right direction from this and don't just take, for example, a harder anti-immigration, anti-muslim stance to appeal to the voters who only read memes and think all muslims are terrorists. It's a difficult time and I have great respect for your views...and your sewing xx
ReplyDeleteThank you for this post. I am still in such a state that I am still avoiding newspapers and tv news. I have taken refuge in my sewing. I've been sewing for nearly 40 years and never got around to learning how to make double welt pockets and now my daughter has multiple skirts with double welt pockets....
ReplyDeleteMeanwhile, I attended my League of Women Voters meeting yesterday and decided that civic education and civil discourse will be a priority action item for next year.
And if it's okay, I just read this-it is non partisan and may offer some readers a way forward....I am trying to figure out how not to post unknow because I want to sign my name... Palma
Carolyn, thank you for your brave post. Not my president either. I totally respect the office, and the candidate earns that respect during his/her campaign. So not true of DT. I won't say his name nor read anything else with his name in it. I am scared, afraid for the loss of many human rights that have been hard fought for and won for many years. No, I do not want DT in any woman's uterus. Or in the border patrol. Or making policy on foreign presidents he "likes". Or ensuring a good education for all children. Or health care for all of us, even if we are economically deprived. I fear for all the mothers who now have to protect their girls from predators, even the young, who heard all the news of DT's remarks on a TVset. I fear for the social security safety net for those coming up to that age; I fear for the elderly who will lose SS and the health that Medicare brings them. No, not my president. I will also try, with my limited means as an aging boomer, to support those causes and benefits that I believe in. I have the same thoughts as Mountain Woman above. I am scared.
ReplyDeleteThank you C. You have great wisdom in the way you have expressed yourself and respected others. Love, care, watching each others' backs and creating beautiful things, spaces and institutions of support are the way now. This was a referendum on white supremacy, misogyny, homophobia, and abelism. Our neighbors voted for this agenda. We must take special care of ourselves and each other.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your post I agree with every thing you have said 100%. I am Canadian but I still feel the shock and dismay at trumps election. I enjoy your blog, have followed for quite a while but don't comment. I look forward to sewing with you in the future!
ReplyDeleteSusan
Oops, it didn't post...
ReplyDeleteIt's from the Century Foundation
https://tcf.org/content/report/putting-democracy-back-public-education/
I'm rather keenly aware that the fear I feel as a white, CIS-gendered, middle-class Canadian is not even a drop in the bucket of how it must feel to be any kind of minority in the states right now. (And yet, I"m scared that Canadian conservatives will follow suit, and worried he will tank our economy...) I"m going to hope for the best though - that the good people of America on both sides of the aisle will stand up for those in need of solidarity or protection! Good post.
ReplyDeleteDear Carolyn, thank you for posting your thoughts here, it is when we engage in conversation and LISTEN, really listen to each other fears without judgement that we can begin to understand and grow. That is my greatest prayer. For calm, understanding, respect and peace. That said, I'm a middle-aged Canadian white woman who cried when I woke up to the news of the president-elect. I am having a hard time understanding this week's global events. And yes, I'm scared too. Here in our country, there is a political leadership race where one candidate praised Trump's victory and tactics. It is scary that what he said and did during the election is admired by a political candidate here. It is not just in your country. I have great respect for your views and your courage to express them. Praying for peace and respect.
ReplyDeleteI find it pretty unbelievable that a friend would unfollow over politics, but then again it has been a heated ride! Here is Aust, we have two main parties but their policies aren't that different really. And the Prime Minister cannot make decisions on his/her own. In fact it is very hard to get any changes through. We still do not allow same sex marriages! And thank God we do not have 2 year campaigns - only 4 weeks. And we have to vote - no choice - you must turn up or be fined. We are very lucky here in Australia as we don't have the same level of class/racist/poverty issues. And we went under the radar during the GFC. Hopefully Trump was just all "look at me" during the campaign and will now settle down and make a good President. Best wished to you all, however you voted.
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry this happened to you. However Trumps followers are the very conservative who are intolerant of any views but their own. This intolerance is what I find so scary about his election. I am a lurker of your blog, a white woman from the Midwest who recently moved to OR after retirement from an IT corporate job. Trump does not respect women, people of color, the poor, or the elderly. I am afraid.
ReplyDeleteI am still stunned and appalled that a large portion of America voted for *rump. I am still wearing my Clinton pin and sign is still in my front yard. How does *rump explain his words proven forever on videos to his 15 year old Son and Grandkids. A presidential canadate can say these things when other people would get fired. The Electoral College did not do their job allowing this republican canadate to get that far in the election, they should have bypassed him. He is even refusing to travel with the members of the press. It's one of the many signs to come of his desire to rule not govern.
ReplyDeleteJanice from Southeastern, WI
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ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteI have been reading election comments with interest because I have been trying to understand why anyone would vote for Trump.
DeleteYou talk about HRC being a “congenital liar," but conveniently ignore the lies spewing from Trumps mouth.
You talk about the damage done by the present president, what damage? From what I can see he is an honest, christian ( a trait you seem to value) and reasonable man, who turned around the American economy and improved your international reputation after the laughing stock that was George W.
You mention Trumps business acumen, but you are aware that he has declared bankruptcy several times, and he has a habit of cheating tradesman. I understand he has been sued more than 4000 times. Quite an impressive record.
I guess the KKK endorsement doesn't alarm you either. Does the way he treats women fall in with your values, a grab here and there isn’t really a big deal is it?
If you were to list the qualification of both main candidates in a list without name or party affiliation HRC would always be the most qualified.
I am Canadian, not a democrat and not even a HRC fan, but I am astounded by the ability of republicans to try and justify their choice of Trump. You would have to be deaf dumb and blind to think that he was the right choice and to say that it had nothing to do with race or gender is disingenuous and self-serving.
Reading this post made my stomach turn. The justifications, hypocrisy and above all else that ultimate desire to preserve whiteness.
DeleteGod help us.
And you know my race how??? Don't make assumptions. You are entitled of course to your political opinions and it's sad you are nauseated by another opinion other than your own.
DeleteStella; I didn't say he is a nice guy, I said he was a very competent businessman. As to his bankruptcies, etc., if they were legal, what's the problem. He knows how to plan the game and does so with acumen.
DeleteI don't think I'd like to be his best bud, but I do think he can lead this country out of the mess it is currently in.
re KKK endorsement: I am not aware that he requested that one. Or bragged about it. Or thanked them. They are repulsive in the extreme. BUT it is still a supposedly free country and they have a right to their opinion politically as long as they have the right to vote. Repulsive though.
Deletere women: Nope, I don't think it's right, and I'd punch him in the nose if he had done that, devil take the consequences. BUT it doesn't make him unqualified; look at William Jefferson Clinton and his reputation prior to during and after his Presidency.
DeleteWhy are we talking about Bill Clinton? He wasn't running for office and we've had 4 terms since he's left office. Not sure why his reputation is up for discussion vs the current elected president.
DeleteI said nothing about your race. It's irrelevant to me. I'm saying the backing by many is full of hypocrisy, justifications (of Trumps LIES), and preservation of whiteness.
Sooooo the shoe must've fit. Hope it's comfy.
No, in otherwords she hopes Trump will begin applying the law of the land again, unlike the present president and Hillary who has broken the law in all kinds of ways but will NEVER see the inside of a jail that a normal citizen would had they committed a FRACTION of what she did.
DeleteI've read your posts for years, and have enjoyed them immensely, and plan on continuing to read your blog posts.
ReplyDeleteI think why some people might have unfollowed you is because stating that Mr Trump is not your President is shocking. If you are a USA citizen, he is your President-Elect - like it or not. Those are the facts. If you had simply explained about your fear instead of aggressively stating you won't accept a duly elected President, that might have mitigated matters, but I don't know for sure.
Our country is almost equally divided. The popular vote numbers show that.
I don't know how to heal this divide. I do know everyone deserves a chance, and to write off our new President before he takes office is pretty harsh.
This is the post I have been waiting for as it sums up some of the feelings I have had reading other blogs/ instagrams etc. For months I have had sleepless nights thinking about the possible outcomes of the election. I have felt fearful because I could sense deep divisions and the difficulty we have had listening to the strongly felt concerns that each group has expressed. I am not happy with the outcome, but I am also aware that had Mrs. Clinton won there would have been fear and loathing felt by others.
ReplyDeleteI live in DC and this town in consumed with politics 24/7. It can be very wearing and frankly I am exhausted with the rancor, hatred and vitriol expressed by some people on both sides. I am wishing for a time when we can respectfully listen to the legitimate concerns of others without attacking or demeaning them as unworthy or deplorable. I am dedicating myself to this henceforth.
My candidate did not win in 2008 or 2012. I didn't cry, grieve, need counseling, protest or think about moving out of the country. I accepted it. I voted for Trump,but if he didn't win I would still be OK.
ReplyDeleteSo everyone should react as you did?
DeleteAlready people are being attacked, black and brown, being called slurs and told to go back to Africa and build a wall.
I didn't vote for Bush either time. But I wasn't fearful for my life when he was elected.
Carolyn
ReplyDeleteI've read your blog for years but never been a "follower" so I'll just go ahead and add my voice by subscribing. Keep up the good work.
This has been a campaign based on the abuse of rhetoric. It is the continued de-escalation of civility. When you have a presidential candidate and now president- elect using the language that he has used, you have demonstrated that it is okay to say and do whatever you want without consequences. I hold the president to the same standards that I hold the pastor of my church. I expect them to exhibit a behavior that I want to emulate. I want my president to look and sound presidential. That is not the case with Donald Trump. His words have created an atmosphere where the fringe elements feel encouraged to act out their hatred. Why are people so afraid of people that don’t look like them?
ReplyDeleteThe thing that bothered me the most is people did not really question how he was going to accomplish the things that he promised. People reacted to what was being said. I see the continuation of anger and fear for the next 4 years. His supporters will feel betrayed when he can't accomplished what he promised. He has already stated that he may keep some sections of Omamacare. First he was going to export all illegal immigrants, then he changed to exporting the violent ones. What happens when the campaign promises can’t be filled? Make Mexico build a wall by withholding funding. China or the Soviet Union would be glad to give them money. Then we would have communist sitting on land physically connected to our country. Sever alliances with other countries, what happens to companies that export goods to these countries?
Jobs – really??? GM has already announced layoffs for 2000 people in Ohio and Michigan. Regaining manufacturing jobs is a pipe dream because of technology. Many jobs losses are due to robots and technology. What company is going to hire a bunch of people with salary requirements to replace a robot? Assembly lines are operated by robots, the more robots the less people are needed. Hispanics do the jobs that Americans don’t want to do. Do you want your child to clean toilets, pick vegetables in the hot sun or mow lawns? I don’t. They are working on driverless cars and tractor trailer trucks, what does that tell you about the future for truck drivers or taxi cab drivers?
Regaining jobs by raising 1 billion dollars of private financing for building infrastructure. Question – how do the companies make a profit? The only way to recoup the cost is to build toll roads which shift the cost to the public.
America has always been great, but of course it depends on what you define as great.
I rarely comment but this... This, Sister, is a reason to reply. I agree that without conversation, there is only compartmentalization. I am with you. I cannot even conceive of a Nation that would make this choice. I understand some people want a conservative supreme court and I can understand that driving their vote. But that is one facet of a very complex set of circumstances. I'm a pretty political person and have reams of things to say, but I'll limit it to this: I have never learned as much about life as I have from people who aren't like me. So I seek them out. I listen to their stories. Respect Empathy. Compassion. Inclusion. Compromise. These are not things I saw from the person who is going to assume that office, yet they are the cornerstones of a healthy society. I am making it my personal mission to reach out and grab the hand of people of different opinions. I am making it my personal mission to stand up in defense of marginalized people. We can't look at the ground any more. We have to move out of our comfort zone an stand up and let our voices sing out in unity.
ReplyDeleteI miss President Obama and FLOTUS Michelle so much already...
OMG this, this, a thousand times this: "I miss President Obama and FLOTUS Michelle so much already..."
DeleteMy dear one, I have always enjoyed your sewing journey and your growing family. I think I rarely comment though. I felt your joy when President Obama was elected all those years ago; I know the joy I felt when Australia had a woman PM, and I can only imagine how much more significant that was for you. I don't know how this happened to your country, but as I have for all my American friends, I send my love, my promise that I will try to avoid this happening in my own country, and my promise to watch out for the people who will be targeted by those given voice by this terrible man and his hate speak. Grieve as you need to, take what time you need. I will enjoy your sewing when you get back to it. All my love in this hard time.
ReplyDeleteI am so with you. This (um) president elect is an affront to democracy. He screamed about Pres. Obama and his birth certificate and then expects us to take him with open arms. He is not My president either. Have you seen the response to Samantha Bee's Nasty Woman t shirt? It sold about 20 thousand before election day and has gone up to 35 thousand in the last few days. The proceeds go to Planned Parenthood.
ReplyDeleteThe first thing I had to face this week happened on election night with my 14yo son giving me election results every 5 minutes starting at 9:00 and panicking when Trump was ahead 9 states to 3. The only way I got him to bed that night was to assure him that there was no way Trump could do everything he said – even top republicans didn’t support him – so he shouldn’t worry about it. By morning, I wasn’t so sure that was still true especially after I found out that both the House and Senate were still republican.
ReplyDeleteThe second thing I had to face this week was the day after the election. I listened to my class of eighth grade African American boys joke (but not really) about “being able to stay”. Some of their comments: “We’re the worst ones!”, “I’m gonna get to stay”, “WE’RE ALL gonna have to go!” this led to a comparison of color to see who had the lightest or darkest skin. Sigh. I’m their music teacher. I let them talk. I assured them and every other class I had that day that I did NOT vote for that …..person.
Throughout this election, I have seen some of my FB friends, not many but some, post pro-Trump articles. I have hidden those articles immediately because I can’t even stand to see his face. For one group of people, my x’s Louisiana family who I remain friends with so they can see updates of my kids, it was expected. For the other group, I can’t. I just can’t accept it. These educated, “Christians” decided to overlook . A friend of a friend posted a comment after the election that was something like, “So, now Trump’s a racist. When did that happen?” one reply was, “on Monday before the election”. And some of the people on that thread were African Americans, supporting the pro-Trump comments!!!! With one vote, these friends are proudly announcing to everyone that they believe in every single stereotype and now they have permission to say it out loud. They are not the people they claim to be and I don’t have time for them anymore. White privilege, UGH. If you have never been discriminated against, how can you know what it feels like? How can you sit back and say “it’s their own fault’ or “they shouldn’t act like that? UGH.
On Wednesday a colleague posted this, “A white woman in her car starts sticking up her middle finger at my students outside of school this afternoon for no reason at all. #day2intrumpsamerica”. He teaches at our School of the Arts. Seriously? Because of Trump you have you think you have permission to show your true self and just flip off an exceptional group of high school students?
So anyway, thank you Carolyn for keeping the comments open and letting people express their true selves. I’m amazed at how/why some of the pro-Trump people decided to support him. The truth about me is that I’m a sore loser. I’m also grieving for our future. I don’t know when I’ll get over it. When I read comments from my true friend’s posts about coming together and staying strong for the future of this country, I know that I am definitely not there yet.
I wonder how the this election would have gone if Donald Trump were black? ;)
Don't judge everyone by the slimeballs you have the misfortune to encounter. We are not all creeps, bigots, racists, etc. In fact, no one I know is. I think that this is an East Coast and West Coast perception mostly. Of course, there are exceptions to everything and you have the misfortune to be the victim.
DeleteIf Trump were black: He would have won in a landslide.
You say, "We are not all creeps, bigots, racists, etc." No, but you tolerate it in your candidate and his supporters. That's not an East Coast or West Coast perception, it's a fact. I have SEEN his rallies. I have HEARD his words. I'm sorry, if you voted for him you don't care enough about the rights of others to vote against hate.
DeleteFollowers of Jesus Christ were first called Christians at Antioch. It meant Christ-like. It is impossible to be Christ-like and support feticide and partial-birth abortion. That is why I could never support Hillary or donate to Planned Parenthood.
ReplyDeleteNot as religious as you, but agree on Planned Parenthood. Repulsive.
DeleteI said I was going to let y'all talk amongst yourselves but I need to jump in here and say that Planned Parenthood's main mission is to provide healthcare to women who can't afford it. They do/provide Mammograms, pelvic exams, birth control counseling. And I support them because as a college student I used their services when I had no money. It seems to me that low cost Healthcare for women who wouldn't receive any other way, should be a priority to all women regardless of what party ideals you subscribe to. That bs about abortions is just that and has been debunked as lies. So what Christian woman wouldn't want another women to get healthcare?
DeleteAs a nurse, my first job was working in a hospital that provided abortion services. I have held the hands of women and sometimes their husbands that choose this route when they discover that the pregnancy that they cherished is not going to result in a happy bundle of joy. I have seen women make this decision because of rape or abuse. I have taken care of young girls that are pregnant because of incest. Of course, there are women who are careless and have repeat abortions. Nothing is more devastating that to get to the end of a pregnancy and find out that the baby died and now you have abort the pregnancy.
DeleteWhen I was 16 and not sexually active, my mother sent me to Planned Parenthood. My mother worked everyday but this is the best that we could afford. It was one of the best things that she ever did for me. I learned about birth control and the risk of sexual activity. As a result of this education, I did not end up being a teen mother. How many parents are truly comfortable discussing birth control with their children? People miss the fact that federal funding cannot be used to support abortions. As a nursing student, I witnessed a interaction that has always stayed with me. There was a 14 year old girl with a 2 year old, an infant and she was pregnant again. The nurse was scolding her about birth control. The nurse said "I have you birth control pills, why didn't you use them". Her response was "I put them in but they kept falling out"
Birth control is not always effective. How many women do you know that have children as a result of an unplanned pregnancy? In those cases the woman decided to continue the pregnancy.
It is a women's right to choose to continue or end a pregnancy. She is the only one who has to stand at the gates to answer for her decision. I can't sit in judgement of others because my motto is " Except for the grace of God, go I". It is only because of God's intervention I am not in that person's shoes.
I was already pro-Planned Parenthood, but I learned a lot from your post. Wow and thanks for posting.
DeleteJoyce, I respect your position as a Christian relative to abortion and your right to support the candidate of your choice. But how in the WORLD do you reconcile the actions of Donald Trump with Christ's doctrine? Taken as a whole, and looked at from a purely scriptural standpoint, Mr. Trump has far less to offer from a Christian standpoint. One cannot be Christlike and make fun of the disabled. One cannot be Christlike and talk about women as sexual possessions. One cannot be Christlike and deny people of color housing. One cannot be Christlike and surround themselves with a gold plated life while contributing the suffering of others (this refers to those financially ruined by his business practices). One cannot be Christlike while cheating on 2 wives. Or bragging about avoiding STD's being their "own personal Vietnam". One cannot be Christlike while attacking a man's citizenship for no other reason than he could. For me, a better choice than voting for this man, if I had serious moral reasons for not voting for the rest, would be to not vote at all. I ask you, if a Demon stood at your doorstep and promised to end all abortions if you would cast your lot with him, would you do it?
DeleteNo one is "reconciling" Trumps actions with the bible. We aren't electing a preacher or elder, we are electing a president. How can anyone elect a woman who flaunts the laws of our land? Who has given secrets to our enemies and sold weapons to our enemies for her own monetary gain? You are appalled at what Trump has said but I'm appalled at what Hillary had done--for years! with impunity. Is that what we want? a nation with one set of laws for the politically connected and another set of laws for those of us who aren't politically connected? I believe that is called fascism, socialism-- or if you like just plain corruption. btw, the devil is behind the killing of children, he would never promise to end it, why would he when there are so many people killing tons of innocent children--Jesus loved children and wanted us all to be innocent like children. The bible also tells us that God knows us before we are even born. How in the world can we kill such defenseless children and call it protecting women's health when so many future women are being killed?
DeleteI am a 64 year old white female. He is NOT my president. He's a cruel, vulgar, vengeful, pathological lying, racist, misyogenistic bully. You vote for a racist, you're a racist.
ReplyDeleteI want to thank you for this chance to have respectful conversation.
ReplyDeleteI have follow your blog for many years. Have never been brave enough to comment except for your give away recently :-). You are my hero in the blogosphere (sp?). A brave strong woman who is a wonderful mentor to so many..... I fell into the "Never Trump" camp. I wanted a sane person as Commander in Chief. Now with the outcome I am compelled to be braver, stronger, and start participating in the dialog. I can no longer stand on the sidelines and watch. We have a country that is hurting, and we all need to do what we can to ease the pain. We don't have to agree with each other, but we need to love each other. Too much pain for so many people. Please to your readers. Wear a safety pin on your lapel. Let others know you are a safe place. Be a safe place. If our leaders are not going to look out for us, we need to do so for each other. Thanks again Carolyn. So glad I found your blog. Your words, as always so beautifully written. With great Respect, Susan
I think that there more than a few relationships that have been rocked by this election..ended, changed, rethought. I am sad and, yes, a wee bit fearful, but as someone who loves history we don't have to go back that far to see that this is a cycle.....albeit not a welcomed one by many. We will persevere, buckle down, make change, and, hopefully grow the love and friendship and not buy into. the hate, racism, egoism, narcissism, and misogyny . We really can be better than those who come from fear and hate. I had thought that some of these dark days had passed us by, butbthe wheel of fortune has spun again...and what goes up generally goes down in time. I am sorry that you 'lost' a friend, but you touch many every day and you optimism will be back in no time. Thanks for your work, your sewing and your refusal to give in!
ReplyDeleteIt seems really weird to me, as an Australian where 100% of the population is forced to take responsibility for their government and vote, that over 40% of people in the US election just couldn't be bothered. Really??? That's more people than either party got!
ReplyDeleteIt's not that people don't bother. What is so often referred to as apathy is really the understanding that no candidate represents their interests. I didn't vote for Trump or Clinton because of their policies, not their personalities; I voted for Jill Stein. Many of us feel Trump's election is ushering a reign of terror directed at large swaths of the American people. Can we all agree that any attacks, whether verbal or physical against any vulnerable group are unacceptable and we will condemn them? I certainly hope so.
DeleteCarolyn, I love how you have become more outspoken since you left your corporate job. Seems like it is more of your true self. I am a community psychologist and have been a social activist since the Viet Nam War. I have worked to educate people about prejudice of all kinds. I sew for fit and quality but most importantly, it gives me something creative that has nothing to do with words.
ReplyDeleteThis past year, words have revealed an entrenchment and disrespect of others that many folks have felt entitled to. When I asked my patients this week how they would go about talking to people who voted differently than they did, almost all of them just repeated campaign rhetoric. It took a lot of work to get them to start thinking of that "other" as a thoughtful person.
In 2013, Blindspot:Hidden Biases of Good People, was published. It summarizes social psychology research over the last 20 years and described the inherent bias that all of us have. Those of us who teach diversity and cultural competence have seen for many years that everyone has biases. This is the solid, high quality research that proves it. It is not a surprise, really. This country was built on the genocide of Indigenous people and the backs of slaves. We have never gone through a process of reconciliation because we have never admitted that we need it. To answer Vicky Townsend's comment above, if Trump were Black he would have LOST by a landslide. The racism against Obama is such that neither candidate even considered a person of color as a running mate.
I voted 3 weeks early and then turned off the TV and radio news. I get the newspaper, so I could keep up with the events but was shielded from the hateful rhetoric. I meditate every morning for 20 minutes but added another evening meditation as well. I listened to music and watched nature documentaries. During this time I have been working hard with the Society of Indian Psychologists to get support to the Water Protectors at the Standing Rock Reservation in North Dakota, who are suffering trauma at unlawful search and seizure and being attacked with dogs, rubber bullets, stun grenades and violence while they pray to protect their sacred lands and water. So the shut off of TV and radio rhetoric did not insulate me entirely from dealing with racism.
I am afraid of what this incoming President will do to all my peoples. I am Latina and Indigenous. Some of my ancestors came from Africa. I am afraid that there will be violence resulting in deaths at Standing Rock after January 20. If the Water Protectors were white ranchers, they would be safe. But they are not. Proportionally, more American Indians die at the hands of law enforcement than any other ethnic group. Trump has said that on his first day of office, he will round up all my relatives and expel them from this country.
I have no way of knowing what was campaign rhetoric and what he will be able to do with a Republican majority Congress. I know that I will be as active as ever working for equitable health care for everyone, for equal wages for women, for safe housing, for quality education for poor children and to increase people's understanding of each other. I am wondering how long the determination of some people to work for change in the wake of Trump's election will last. Will they be flashes in the pan? Or will this election give them the determination (AT LAST) to build the stamina to work to help the most disadvantaged among us? The only way we get out of the mess that divisiveness has caused is together.
Thank you, Melinda! You so well pulled together such an understanding of history and the psychology of people.
DeleteOh my goodness, Carolyn, you took the words right out of my mouth. I am STILL in shock and completely devastated by the election results. I'm with you: he will NEVER be my President. And one of the things that disturbs and saddens me most deeply is that I thought America as a whole had moved forward . . . and I truly believed that we were trying to grow as a nation . . . embrace progress. And then this man who spouts racism, greed, division, hatred was elected. My heart hurts so very much right now. It hurts because now I don't know who I can trust. I have neighbors, family members, people I talk with every day (as you said -- people I have relationships with!) who helped elect this man! Have I had my head in the sand? I cry every time I think about it. I am shaken to my core when I realize that I am surrounded by people who HATE. I will not stand for injustice and hatred. I will ALWAYS stand for love.
ReplyDeleteIn fact, I started wearing my safety pin yesterday because that is one small outward sign to the world that I am a safe person in the face of hatred. The safety pin is a silent message that I am an ally and I will defend those groups that the president-elect and his followers have chosen to hate.
This man has no idea how big the office of the presidency is, and he is in no way capable or qualified to fill the shoes that President Obama will leave behind.
You are not alone.
Everyone is entitled to their views and although I'm on the other side of the pond, I am in sympathy for how you feel. You just have to remember that faith can tide you through bad places and it will always come right in the end.
ReplyDeleteVery well said!
ReplyDeleteThank you
Marie
Amen
ReplyDeleteLove you Carolyn! Your Canadian neighbour to the north. I wept when I heard the outcome of this election.
ReplyDeleteI'm in awe that you could write so articulately what I am thinking and feeling all this week. We will get through this but only together. I had the extreme good fortune and mental health help of being with sewing friends in a workshop for the last two days. I'm still licking my wounds but taking this one day at a time while comforting myself with fabric and friends and creativity. I just wish I could hug and cry with all my virtual friends around the world but these comments will have to be enough for now.
ReplyDeleteI guess I just don't understand people. Carolyn, I appreciate your blog and read it for the sewing items. However, it is your blog and you can do whatever you want with it, although I think politics is a difficult subject. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion and thank God we live in a place where we can vote. I never once voted for President Obama and have not been pleased with him but this is the first time I've ever said that in any forum or conversation, on the internet or in my personal life. That's becasue on the day he became President I was to respect and pray for the leader of my country. I'll do the same for Trump. This ranting and carrying on about what we want or wanted and saying Not My President or whatever side anyone is not acceptable. In fact, on both sides, it's been absolutely childish and ridiculous. God has a plan for not only our country, but the world He created. He has Plan A and there is no Plan B. And whomever is in office, He will use that person to move His plan forward. It's not about the person. It's about Him. Thanks for being gutsy enough to allow open comments.
ReplyDeleteHopefully Plan A does not include nuclear war.
DeleteNow,now. I didn't attack anyone here. Please play fair.
DeleteActually, it is acceptable. It's a protected right. Your choice to respect President Obama was yours. I, with great effort, did the same after President GWBush was sworn in. This is different for me. President Bush had some experience. He didn't insult just about every group of marginalized people in this country. He didn't normalize lying during his campaign. His policies (and some aspects of his personal life) really bothered me, but I sucked it up and went on with my day. THIS.IS.DIFFERENT. It's not about what I want, it's not about what you want, it's about what is legal, moral and safe. THIS.ISN'T.IT.
DeleteDWeaver you do realize he has endorsed nuclear weapons for Saudi Arabia, North and South Korea, Japan, etc., right? And that he has questioned why we shouldn't use nuclear weapons, since we have them?
DeleteNuclear proliferation has been recognized as a serious threat to world peace for decades. That's why there have been world treaties preventing additional countries from getting them, and decreasing the number of nuclear warheads in nuclear countries. But Trump wants to blow all that up. So it is not an attack to hope that hope that there will not be a nuclear war. And those of us that worry about this are not playing.
I haven't read any of the comments yet, but I woke up Wednesday morning truly concerned about women's rights and what will happen to my friends and family.
ReplyDeleteI am worried that Trump will influence my redneck brethren to show and act on the racial negativity that has been tucked away. I worry that women overall will be demeaned and mistreated. I worry that the sexist attitudes will become "acceptable" again, after years of women working to teach our sons, brothers, and husbands that we deserve more respect than "get in the kitchen and make me a sandwich".
I worry that women's reproductive rights will be abridged again. Whether I personally believe that a woman should have an abortion is irrelevant, but I feel that a woman must have the choice to do with her body as she wishes. I personally know too many women who, for their own reasons, have had to make that choice and I know that, in EVERY case, their choice was right for them. I can't have more children (too old and mine are grown), but I don't want my daughters to lose their right to make their own decision.
I think that Trump is a result of "The Establishment" making people feel disenfranchised for too long. I pray that his presidency will be one of healing and hope for the US. If not, I know that I will be out there campaigning like crazy for change in 4 years... if I'm allowed to do so.
I should probably add, before someone calls me on it, that racial issues ARE a big deal for me. My daughters (Step-daughters, but that is irrelevant in my family) are all half-Latina, as well as my daughter-in-law, who is the child of Cuban immigrants. I have close friends from many countries, who represent a diverse range of religions and skin colors.
DeleteI didn't vote for Trump or Clinton, but wrote in my preferred candidate's name. However, as this election progressed, I lost faith in quite a few people that I considered intelligent and thoughtful people because of the garbage they spewed. What I found most disturbing is that few people could tell me what they liked or found positive about their own candidate. Instead, many would post "I'm voting for XYZ because the other candidate is a jerk". That's no basis to give the Presidency to either candidate, in my opinion.
I am a white, 61 year old female who is appalled by the election results. I support our country, I vote, I believe in the process and I am shocked that this man has been elected President. I will acknowledge that he is the President, but not "my" President. I am angry. Angrier than I have ever been. Sadder than I have ever been. I have always supported our Presidents even when I did not vote for them. I cannot support this man if what I understand his values are turn out to be true. (And all it took for me was a few remarks he made during the debates - words directly out of his mouth, not spouted out by others). I supported and voted for Obama and endured 8 years of uncalled for racism on social media and in real life. I think that President and Mrs. Obama did a fantastic job representing us and caring for all Americans. Now that the wheels are turned, I am amazed at how sensitive our Trump supporters are about us not agreeing with them. So, now you see what it feels like and you don't like it??!! Just yesterday I was asked to donate to three different places because the funding will be cut. In each case, a Republican was asking me to support their cause. One was a friend of mine who just received a kidney and is now worried about her medical bills. Hello! Remember Obamacare and how pre-existing conditions no longer prevented you from receiving healthcare? Now that it is YOUR turn to need this, you need help??! I have a feeling this scene will be played out a lot in the not too distant future. I do hope that Trump will bring new jobs and lots of economic relief. I think that is what has made people vote the way they have. I hope that he makes America great - but diverse, not some 1950s "dream" that only white males remember. I will be spending my time with my friends of all races, creeds, sexual orientations, personalities,religions, differences and alikeness. I will continue to work with the homeless, the poor, the hungry, immigrants, anyone where I can help. I will wear a safety pin. I will NOT be silent anymore.
ReplyDeleteI think I'm still in the disbelief stage of grief. I feel a little numb and keep hoping I'll wake up from a nightmare. But you have said exactly what I do feel and I thank you for that. If we let this divide us further the extremists have won. I pray we can stop that.
ReplyDeleteGreat post. The essence of democracy is the right to express an opinion and have that right respected. I think that when human rights and respect are casually dismissed and hateful language is seen as a refreshing relief from "political correctness" then democracy is at risk. My biggest concern is that so many good people are now afraid. How is that a good thing? Yes I am a Canadian but this is a global community now, no turning that back. An aside, my deaf sister texted me in the middle of the night. "I can't go to the US now, he hates the deaf." Not a good new reality.
ReplyDeleteI did not support Donald Trump nor Clinton for president' but supported an independent. However, I was taught respect from my parents and would never post a picture of the president elect with a slogan of "not my president." There are times when freedom of speech divides our country further. Be respectful and supportive. Whether you like it or not, he will be your president if you remain a United States citizen. Are you planning on giving up your citizenship? You should.
ReplyDeleteWe who fear the policies of Trump can not respect him or be 'supportive' of his policies - those policies include attacks on a variety of vulnerable people, and slashing social programs that can literally save peoples' lives. Yes, he'll be the President, but he doesn't represent many of us, so we don't accept his leadership.
DeleteHere is what I just don't understand: for the last two elections, I have been disappointed with the outcome of the election.....but Obama, whether I liked it or not WAS my president. Obamacare has been a disaster for me and my family in a very concrete way that would take too long to go into in this post, but trust me, it hasn't worked for me and many people.
ReplyDeleteSaying that Trump is not going to be your president is beyond immature. He IS going to be your president, just like Obama has been mine, even though I don't think he was a good one.
" I also believe in the love of Jesus Christ ~ love the person and NOT the sin. Love them that don't believe as I do...love the downtrodden and the hopeless, love those that despite fully use us...LOVE!" I believe this, as well. Which is why I didn't throw a temper tantrum when Obama was elected, and gave him a chance. Don't you think you should do the same?
And, while we are on the subject, peaceful demonstrations? Go for it. RIOTING? Who, in God's name thinks that's a good idea? why haven't Obama and Hillary spoken to this atrocity??
Finally, I thank God that I live in a country where every citizen can vote for whomever they want, be it man, woman, Democrat, Republican, Independent, Martian. But, it infuriates me that I didn't dare put a sign up or put a bumper sticker on my car, for fear of retribution. I have been harangued on Facebook a couple of times, venomously!, for supporting my candidate. In general, I have found that what is good for the goose (Hillary supporters) is not even allowed for the gander(trump supporters)....what an INTOLERANT group they have proven themselves to be.
We have an election every four years. Sometimes your candidate wins, sometimes, they lose. Whoever is elected IS everyone's president. Now grow up, and move on!!!
Keep in mind that when peaceful protesters rally and chant and a tiny number of individuals do damaging things, the whole rally is referred to as a 'riot'. This is propaganda intended to make people fear and hate the message the protesters bring. Be careful not to judge too quickly.
DeleteHe IS your President. Sorry, but that's the fact. I respect your opinions though seldom agree with all of them (Obamacare, etc.) but I think saying he is Not My President is disrespectful. You wish the country to come together; you need to start yourself. Sorry to be harsh, but it is irritating when people continue a battle for an office that is over. I know you are't a rioter, but in a way such a statement supports them.
ReplyDeleteIt's time for cohesiveness and cooperation, not moaning and continuing to complain. The election is over and this is the result.
Please consider being as the saying goes a part of the solution, and not the problem.
With all respect to you I say these things and I love your sewing entries.
I' m sorry - but NO - you don't have the right to tell me or anyone else who to respect. Respect is earned- not granted-and he has done nothing to earn my respect .
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteThe dictionary definition of Respect:
Delete1. a feeling of deep admiration for someone or something elicited by their abilities, qualities, or achievements
2. due regard for the feelings, wishes, or rights of others
It is not reasonable to say that one must respect a role or individual, because it is about a feeling of deep admiration and we can't instruct or demand anybody to feel a certain way. Perhaps if all politicians demonstrated point (2) by their words and actions, demonstrating their abilities, qualitiies and achievements, then Point (1) would be easier for people to achieve.
I am a UK citizen, I absolutely believe in a democratic system but, as in the US, voter turnout is so low you have to question it's efficacy.
Sure, now that a white man is back in office, it's being touted that the job demands respect. Where was this sentiment for the last 8 disrespectful years? I'd never heard such demeaning comments about a President as I did about this last one and find it truly disheartening that the ones who were dishing out so many foul statements now demand respect without even remotely earning it.
DeleteI have had in these past 8 yrs profound Respect for the Office of the President, not Mr. Obama himself. To the best of my knowledge I have made no statements about him and his that were not factually correct.
DeleteAnd sorry, it is possible to respect an institution and not the holder of that position.
Simple Definition of respect. : to feel admiration for (someone or SOMETHING) : to regard (someone or something) as being worthy of admiration because of good qualities
No one stated that they didn't respect the Office of the President of the United States- what has been said is that he is not worthy of the respect that is inherent to that position.
DeleteCarolyn,
ReplyDeleteThank you for your words. I too, am saddened, scared, and repulsed by the results of this election. I think the most difficult moment was explaining the results to my 8 year old. At this moment, in my shock, I oscillate between fear and thin hope that our country is strong enough to survive this next 4 years. I want a world that is just, whole, accepting and inviting of everyone, recognizing that at our core we can choose to be generous to one another without the fear that if I make room for you there may not be anything left for me. And most importantly I want to instill this dream for the world and hope into my children, at this juncture it is very hard work because I have little resources to explain the new president elect to my daughters. I can only imagine how painful this experience is for parents who are not white or Christian. Holding out hope is hard work. I am glad you posted and value your presence in the sewing world. Thanks.
Elizabeth
I remember when I was 20 years old--1980--when the press scared everyone back then too, we were going to get into a nuclear war, we were going to die from global warming/cooling. I bought it too, I was young and inexperienced about how the left scares people into accepting their over reach of our liberties. It worked back then and they keep trying the same tactic because it works. But take it from a old hand at this political scare tactics--we didn't die back then of global warming or nuclear war in fact we were prosperous and our divisions healed. It will happen again, we will not die and we will begin to see the truth of their lies--the scare tactics for what they really are. Have no fear--"Fear not for I am with you always", put your trust in God, the world will come to an end when God's appointed time arrives and not one moment before. When Christians are guided by the truth, scare tactics don't work on us, for we know the truth. FEAR NOT. Relax, trust in God and go about your business doing God's will--bring men to Christ that is all that really matters.
ReplyDeleteI, too, am a Born Again, Bible banging Christian and did not vote for Trump. I cannot and will not align myself with someone so...everything that seems to go against the list of a godly person (look at the fruits of the spirit.) I have been relatively quiet about my faith, mainly because I don't want to be lumped in with the hate that the people labeled "Evangelicals" seem to spout. But no more. I'm speaking up now and saying: this language, this hate, this divisiveness is NOT what Jesus would do. I work at a university and some students already report harassment. My challenge to all of you who claim to be Christian is this: align yourself with the marginalized people around you and offer support. Will you speak up when that gay man is harassed or bullied? Will you offer to walk that woman in a head scarf to her car? Those of you who voted for Trump: don't tell me that's not what you're about. DO something about it to prove it. If you haven't realized that the harassment of marginalized people has increased by so-called Trump supporters, then you are naive. Look it up, then speak up. If it's not what you stand for, they say something. Prove it.
ReplyDeleteBeautifully said.
DeleteThank you. Christians everywhere should be in line with your thinking. Sadly, many are taken off-course by lies and fear.
DeleteI agree with you carolyn. Not my president either. I do not recall the losers of the last two elections acting with grace or dignity as they vowed to obstruct any actions by President Obama, refused to grant s hearing to the qualified individual he nominated for the Supreme Court, etc. etc. etc. So when I hear that we need to respect this man who did not win a majority of the vote, I remember how the very people saying this now acted earlier. I remember birtherism, I remember racist rants, etc. I remember and I don't believe for a moment that those calling for my silence would be silent if Secretary Clinton had won. I seem to recall chants of hang that B...., etc.
ReplyDeleteThe only people who can return to the safety of the sewing room are white women like me and it is a sign of privilege to think that everyone has this luxury. I teach at a state university and i fear for my students and friends who are Muslim, Latino, Hispanic, African American, gay, lesbian. I fear for their emotional, psychological and physical safety.
This man who was elected by an electoral college not popular vote is concerned with protests against him, so unfair, but has yet to condemn planned KKK marches. I'd better stop writing now but you can be assured I am going to work in every way I can to promote justice and economic security for all humans and will not ignore or sanction policies that do not promote these ends. Until I see concrete actions by this man that he will work towards those ends -- not my president.
Dear Carolyn, I just wanted to say how much I appreciate everything on your blog. I have read it for years and comment rarely, but have gotten many sewing ideas from you. Since I have my own blog (about the history of older women's clothing in the US) I know the hard struggle to decide just how personal to be. But the important thing for all of us to remember is that this is your blog--you do the hard work and we are lucky to be able to read it. So say what you want.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you but am too emotional to add any more comments. I know now that I won't live long enough to see a woman president and it breaks my heart.
ReplyDeleteThe thing about having a woman president is that it's not that the leader will be a woman but that the person will be the best person who will further our Constitutional founding that has served this nation and the world with Christian values of giving, mercy, charity and support of LIFE. If that person just happens to be a woman, GREAT, but it is the left that see's the gender, color of skin, sexual orientation etc and insists that we "diversify" just for the sake of diversity. Let's focus on the character of a person rather than the superficial outside "looks" of a person or the "group" that they belong to. The mislabeled superficial dividing the left does is immoral but is promoted as "just" when in truth the divisions amongst us comes from the left and their constant call for diversity based on race and ethnicity rather than the character of a person--the lawlessness, corruptness, dishonesty etc. Try to look at the constant messaging of tv media for what it is...a jaundiced look at our founding and Christian ethics.
DeleteI'm struggling to follow your logic but am happy for you to explain it to me if you have the time. How does your own reference to judging people by their character, with specific reference to 'lawlessness, corruptness and dishonesty' equate with a vote for Mr Trump? Irrespective of your views regarding 'the left' and diversity, which I'll leave aside, I presume the President-elect did not meet your criteria either?
DeletePlease don't think I am being confrontational, I know written messages can be misconstrued, I am genuinely interested.
I don't know how old you are...but I think we will see a female president at some point. But! Why does gender matter so much? I don't think that should be the only reason to vote for anyone. I will embrace and vote for a qualified female candidate, who hasn't lied to the American public, when there is one in front of me. Hillary had way too much baggage that I will not bore you with a list of,and I have been watching her shenanigans for the last 20 years, at least.....and much of her shenanigans took place while I was helping pay her salary!!! No thanks! Looking forward to a qualified, DECENT female to vote for in the future.
DeleteIt wasn't that Trump met my every expectation of what a Christian should be--in fact he met very few--but I wasn't voting for him to be my preacher, an elder or even my brother in Christ--I was voting for him to be the leader of the free world. I was voting against a lawless, corrupt, lying individual who would have been jailed for what she did and the secrets she revealed to our enemies. If your son did only a fraction of what she did he'd be jailed for life. I refuse to vote or someone who wants to KILL children and has no sense of loyalty to our country. She sold us all out for money. It's just that simple.
DeleteWe have all fallen short of the glory of God, you will never get someone who is perfect--is perfectly following God's laws. God has used those who were not perfect to further God's will. That being said someone who wants to end life up to the very day of birth, takes money from our countries enemies and lies about it, coming up with different stories at every turn, lies to the American people about the agenda she wants to promote, (remember private and public opinions?) expects to get away with giving state secrets to our enemies via the emails, has a campaign manager that engages in "spirit cooking" (see his emails) and the untimely death of several people in their circles of power one has to wonder about that person's character. It's not that I haven't wondered at Trumps character a few times but when you are talking about taking life and directly subverting our country to one's own monetary gain that is where I must draw a line and choose which I can vote for since there is only two real choices.
ReplyDeleteThank you very much for taking the time to address my question.
DeleteI'm afraid I remain entirely bemused by your arguments but it's clear to me that the political and social landscape I'm familiar with are entirely different to that which you describe. I've never had a political conversation that referred so much to religion or conspiracy theories. For me, fundamentally, I could never vote for a candidate who promotes intolerance and incites violence and I don't understand how any of your references to Hillary Clinton (irrespective of whether I think they are accurate or even rational) bring you to a point where you could vote for Mr Trump. I do respect your right to have a different opinion to me, I don't think either one of us would ever persuade the other to their argument. Thank you again for answering my question.
Who wants to end the lives of full-term babies? o_O
Deletealso I think you forgot that Americans have freedom of religion. Including whatever God you may follow.
Extremely well said, better than I was able to do. I would add "Benghazi" to your list; and the attitude of What Difference Did it Make? and being a Deplorable in her eyes.
DeleteI'd like to speak from a perspective that I have not seen fully represented here. I come from a background of physical domestic abuse as a child and also suffered sexual abuse during my formative years. For me this subject is not and will never be about politics. As I watched Donald Trump over my adult life and particularly during his run for presidency, I saw from the beginning and felt in my gut the characteristics of a narcissistic predator. He has many of the hand motions and physical gestures of my abuser. All abusers employ these same bullying tactics to gain control over others. Every time I saw his face and heard his bullying words of "get em outta here", "I'd like to punch him in the face", "I'd bomb the s**t outta them", "I just start kissing them, I don't even ask. I grab them by the p***y", and on and on it went, He made it very plain what his character was. I would and still do experience a visceral reaction that made me feel an overwhelming dread. I was terribly upset even before we knew who any of the nominees for either party would be. It is all about the person of Donald Trump, not politics. . As this year has worn on I became more distressed and depressed. I have gone through a life time of work to try and assemble a whole human being out of the fragments that my childhood experiences left. Then it began to occur to me that there was a chance that the person who exhibits all the personality traits and attributes of my abuser, the face of that person I was once powerless to defend myself against, was aspiring to be the most powerful man in the world. Now I know I have to watch the ugly hateful attitudes of a man who has made it exquisitely plain that he respects no one assume the highest office in the country.
ReplyDeleteI don't know if this resonates with anyone else or not, but it is extremely painful for me. I feel a deeply profound sense of grief.
I did not vote for partisan politics this time. I believe that my vote is an instrument not an expression. I voted against this man because I have grandchildren, both male and female, who are being taught how to have character and to treat others with respect. I did not vote third-party as that would not be using my vote as an instrument as opposed to a simple expression. One thing that is changed forever for me in this country is the meaning of the word "Christian" as it applies to politics. That is an incredibly sad and disappointing reality.
All I feel is grief. I cannot understand how people could choose someone like this man regardless of politics. I believe in my country and my country's governmental system. This man was duly elected by our laws and will indeed be our president. I do feel that my fellow countrymen must be truly be desperate to elect a person with no character nor morals. I am totally confused as to how they expect to accomplish anything they believe they lack under his leadership. I clearly understand differences in politics and how we choose to think the problems we experience can best be addressed. I understand someone who is so affected by political partisanship that they could not abide voting for Hillary Clinton. As much as I can examine my heart and motives, however, I believe I can clearly say that I could not select Donald Trump on my ballot regardless of what political party endorsed him.
Any who voted for Donald Trump please know that there is a part of the population that cannot be numbered that must watch the face of our abusers each time there is presidential news. He will carry the title of President of the U. S. but for reasons entirely outside politics we cannot give the person our respect.
Joanier - thank you so much for sharing your perspective. I don't want to use trite words like brave here but to speak so eloquently to another aspect of this situation is commendable. Thank you for taking the time to express it.
DeleteGreat post - thanks. I want to read all the comments but that will take me a day or two.
ReplyDeleteMarciae
Haven't read the comments, so maybe this has been covered. I'm not an Instagram user, so my question is whether unfollowing is a more final thing than it is on FB. As in, I have several friends on FB that I have unfollowed through the election cycle and until the biggest part of the reaction is done. I have no desire to unfriend them - just don't want to see the constant political postings. Maybe this is similar?
ReplyDeleteLike I said, I don't use Instagram, so this may be irrelevant. If that's not it, then I agree that it's sad.
Hey Kris - I think unfollowing is the same on Instagram and Facebook. You won't see anything the person you unfollowed posts unless you go looking for it!
DeleteI'm having a hard time processing all that's happened this week. I was bullied at my previous job for voting for Obama. At least I'm in a more supportive workplace now. But oh Lord, who would have thought that Trump could be elected? May God help us all.
ReplyDeleteDear Caroline, who I have followed for years, please hear me out. Please do not be hurt by what seems to be friends turning their back to you. I think many people, including myself, have been through a traumatic experience with this election. We are tired of the anger and divisiveness we have experienced for the past two years. “Not my president” just brings despair when what some of us crave is a hug and a “We will get through this”.I am horrified by the prospect of the Trump presidency. However, I am also horrified by the “Not my President” movement. The frightening but true fact is, he is our president and lawfully elected. It seems to me divisive and counterproductive and just plain lazy to say “Not my president”. Not accepting the truth will not help the country. The slogan should be “We Won’t Let You Succeed.” We need to get over our horror and work together to make sure he, congress and senate do not have free rein.
ReplyDeleteDear Average in Suburbia, I understand what you are saying, but there is a point to the "not my president" stance that many here are taking. When you have been abused, you are not asked to shake it off, take a hug and a "we'll get through it". You are allowed that space to process your grief. People HAVE BEEN ABUSED at the hands of this man, with his prompting and permission, through action and word. When a black friend in the Seattle area tells me that she was threatened by a person invoking this man's name, I have to tell you that it's NOT lazy or divisive to repudiate the ringleader. It's a duty. The divisiveness was already here, he just gave permission to let it roll. Please don't try and tell me that this isn't his fault. When he provided the petri dish and the heat by promoting culture of hate and fear, he is responsible the ensuing epidemic.
Delete'Not my president' is a visceral reaction that people are putting far too much emphasis on. Let's not get hung up on this. I wholeheartedly agree with your slogan "We Won't Let You Succeed (at fulfilling your policies of hatred)" This is where our emphasis needs to be.
Delete"free rein" you mean like Obama had with his pen and his phone. Done right, congress must seek the permission of the people, get a consensus among it's groups and then pass an acceptable bill. What do you mean by "free rein of Congress?" It was meant to be difficult to pass anything in Congress because passing too many bills infringes the liberties of the people.
DeleteDear Carolyn, Long time reader, and a first time poster. Thank you for you blog first of all I love it!! I want to say in this discussion as a person who is fully in support pretty much all you have expressed here, not my president I think goes two ways. Many people have spent eight long years asking people like Donald Trump to show some respect or at least not be flat out rude to the president his wife and his children. So to see one of the ringleaders of the questioning of President Obama ... become ... President??? We supporters of the President now have to feel a type of way about this. To me this is almost beside all his other disqualifications for office. So do not ask me to support this person as president. Thanks again Carolyn for expressing this, its good to see others put their thoughts out so others can take comfort and know we are not alone. Because we are not! The majority of the country voted for Secretary Clinton!
ReplyDeleteBest,
Liberty
Hi Carolyn, long time reader, and a first time poster (I copied the above message because I am French and my english isn'y good) I thank you for your blog and for your post.
ReplyDeleteThe best for all
Phew, getting through this was tough. Thank you, Carolyn, for giving us a safe and sane place to express ourselves. Facebook can be pretty brutal, but most of the posters here were not trying to be inflammatory. You've done a public service.
ReplyDeleteThank you Carolyn, especially for your support for Planned Parenthood. I, too, used their services when I was young, broke and uninsured. I owe them and appreciate them. Something you wrote about really touched me - sometimes it is difficult to know if your online "friends" are real friends. I do happen to love and enjoy the online sewing community and I realize that many of these folks are more conservative than I am. Didn't you love how the online sewing community responded with "Let them eat cake" photos? I actually blogged about that and how anti-sewing this outright disrespect for women of different body sizes is - sewing is all about creating and accommodating differences - one of the reasons I love it so. Did I lose customers because of that blog post? Maybe. I'm almost positive that I lost some over my blog post on how the sewing machine helped the North win the Civil War. I'm a small business owner and really can't afford to alienate customers, but I'm just not going to stop exercising my basic American right to free speech and free expression. I'm sorry that someone you thought was your friend unfollowed you, and I know it can be painful. But please don't ever stop freely expressing yourself as a woman, a sewista, an African-American, a supporter of President Obama and just as an individual. You are much valued in this community.
ReplyDelete❤️ He really isn't my president, for which I'm thankful. Hugs from Canada.
ReplyDeleteI've been so upset about the election I cut myself off Facebook today b/c even despite the camaraderie of like minded people, I feel no healing. I live in midtown Manhattan - my days since the election are filled with sirens and helicopters and massive protests several blocks from my home at Trump's hotel. The stress of post-election is literally in my backyard.
ReplyDeleteI'm coming out of lurkdom to say thank you for this post. And beyond, thanks to all the commenters too. I'm white and straight and therefore, live in a privileged bubble. I think while we all feel like Americans, there are absolutely different rules based on how people look. But how do we - especially white Americans who lead a more privileged life - learn about the double standard? How do we start to 'get it'?' It's through posts like this, from people we DO consider friends, that we get a peek outside our respective bubbles. Posts like this aren't popular, they are not comfortable but they are brave and, I think, necessary. That said, I'm sure this post didn't feel 'easy' (nor did typing many of the probably less popular comments) so I just wanted to thank you for making it anyway. All the best to all of you.
I'm with you!
ReplyDeleteHi! Thank you for your refreshing honesty. And thank you for confessing your Christianity while at the same time acknowledging that there are worthy causes to donate to that are not just church related, like Planned Parenthood. One of the ways to fight normalizing hate speech (as this election as done) is to normalize compassion, as you are doing.
ReplyDeleteI have had a long road in my faith and after this election, I can no longer identify with the (white) American Evangelical church. I grew up in it, I ministered in it, but I can no longer be a part of a larger group that supports xenophobia, sexism, racism, etc. Living freely in Christ I believe pushes out those things. You know, churches have been saying "we have a heavenly King, so don't worry" but then to vote out of fear or self righteousness? I cannot follow those leaders any longer.
That sucks that even sewing could not bridge the gap between you and your followers. I love your take on sewing, and how it fits into your lifestyle. I'm quite jealous of your sewing cave, actually!!!
Thanks again for providing the space to comment
to the people who say we should not say things like "not my president", surely there is a point when that is exactly acceptable? surely, if the leader were to actually do terrible things as a leader, we have every reason to publicly NOT support him or her? Trump is alarming us, scaring us that to believe he may in fact do terrible things in his position. that is why we do feel it is appropriate to say "not my president". we are afraid. do you remember what that is like?
ReplyDeletePeople say we should not disrespect someone who has disrespected a legally elected president for years, claiming he must be a kenyan? A man who threatened his opponent and threatened to jail her, we should not disrespect him? A man who called women horrible names in public, we should not disrespect him? I think I am in the Twilight Zone!!!
DeleteSo tell me how are we to respect someone who flaunts the laws of our country? Sells out our citizens safety for money, lies and lies and lies about everything. How do we respect a man who's fingerprints are all over this economy, the lawlessness of his executive orders, the protection of people who are illegal by our laws and flaunts the constitution making us defy our consciences by making us pay for other peoples abortions. Hillary promised to continue this lawlessness. Trump had no power to ruin our country. What kind of country and justice system where we going to have with a lawless person at the helm? I for one want our laws obeyed for the sake of EVERYONE, for the cause of what is right.
DeleteI'm not sure how Planned Parenthood's killing of children squares with the bible message of respect for life no matter what. Please take another look at the message of life in the bible. You'll see there is no room for those who kill innocent life, Jesus loved the "least of these" please don't equate Christ with donating to such corrupt and evil group as Planned Parenthood.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
Delete1999 On Meet The Press, Trump states that he is pro-choice. Out of his own mouth he stated that he would not ban partial birth abortion. People voted for him because he is anti-abortion. Who got conned? http://www.nbcnews.com/meet-the-press/video/trump-in-1999-i-am-very-pro-choice-480297539914
DeleteFortunately enough he changed his mind about abortion and now is very much against it.
DeleteI might agree with you if society would respect and take care of the children born with handicaps. Living in red states I could barely walk down the street with her, and other mothers told the same stories. In the local newspaper one person said our children should not be seen, and they put butcher paper over the windows in our children's class room, and they were allowed on the play ground only when other classes were not present, even though the playgrounds were separated. But, Lord, we can't allow you to follow your own religion and make the choice to abort, but once born, keep those children in the attic, please. God!!!!
DeleteWhat in the world are you talking about?
DeleteCarolyn, I was for the other side of the ticket, mainly because I am a Catholic and could not vote for anyone who would condone abortion at any time, especially up to the day of birth. Plus, I just never liked HRC. I was once a staunch Democrat but the party is too leftist for me now. I can understand your pain because, while I have tried to be respectful of everyone's choice on FB, I have received scathing comments and have been unfriended by several people. Your post eloquently expressed your views. Now, hopefully we can all heal and move forward. People were very unhappy when Kennedy won, but nothing like this. The result cannot be changed so I guess I just do not understand all the violence. I just want you to know that I respect your opinion, as I hope people will respect mine. Sorry you were hurt.
ReplyDeleteIt is precisely because I am Catholic (very Catholic-My son attends a Newman College) That I could never vote for Trump. Not only was he openly pro-abortion until only a few years ago but he repeatedly misrepresented late term abortion (Abortion is illegal in the third trimester and in most states only legal due to health reasons)
DeleteHowever, I cannot be a one issue voters and Trump fails miserably on all 7 themes of Catholic Social Teachings (http://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/what-we-believe/catholic-social-teaching/seven-themes-of-catholic-social-teaching.cfm)
Given Trump's autocratic temperment and the damaging nature of many of his ideas, I feel it is important to have a strong counter . The protest serve a valuable role in preserving the American values that have been under attack during the campaign.
I do not respect the man who was elected to this great country. He is a TV entertainer. It is shameful that the Republican party allowed him to run as their candidate. He has managed to hurt so many people with his words and his words have energized groups such as the Klu Klux Klan. He's got the world on his shoulders now and he will not have the support of this country. What really sucks is that the other side hated Hillary just as much. I had braced myself for a lot of opposition to her. Now we have this completely unexpected situation where ... weird things will happen. We know that. He wants to live in Manhattan part time. WTF? He's going to leave Pence in charge. I am also happily sending my dollars to PP and I will be supporting new candidates getting into politics. Your post is very good because you are stating your own position and not criticizing anyone else for their own views. That's the way to roll.
ReplyDeleteThis happened 16 years ago with Al Gore- won the popular vote and lost the election. Have we learned nothing? State by state we can change the way the electoral college works and change the next presidential election. We can also work to get people acceptable forms of ID and help them register to vote. We can drive them to the polls. We can make it simpler to vote absentee and bring early voting to all 50 states. Did you know in many states college students are required to go home to vote? Most students don't have cars and can't get home to vote. We should be encouraging our young people, not placing obstacles in their way.
ReplyDeleteAnd we can stand up for fairness, equality, etc. We need to demonstrate with our actions that we won't tolerate bullying, sexual harassment, discrimination, and more.
Find a cause and work for it. The 1% appears to be politicians, not the wealthy. They want to control the electorate and keep their power. But we have power in numbers. Use it. From Gandhi- be the change you want to see in the world.
The electoral college is a brilliant way to get everyone a fair vote and have a say in the election of the leader of our nation because if you merely took the popular vote everyone in New York and Southern California would be the only people who had a voice in who the president would be. No one in rural states would ever be able to voice their preference for a president. Please read up on the brilliance of the framers of the constitution before talking. I realize this is just a sewing blog but the least you can do is educate yourself about our elections and constitution before commenting. And please, look up the instances where Hillary bullied people, paid her female staff less than male staff, called people of Mexican descent "taco bowls". **sigh**
DeleteI am the one who is fearful when I read so many women on a sewing site defending the practice of killing unborn children and trying to defend such a horrible practice with such a lame defense as healthcare. Please! I'm fearful that so many people have fallen prey to lies that would allow killing to be justified.
DeleteI'm so done with this website, I've tried "listening" to the other opinions but I can't stomach the killing of children, lawlessness and ignorance of our constitution and laws. I fear for this great country with it's liberties unlike any other nation in world history. What a complete shame.
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