I don't recall too many moments that I can honestly say are world game-changers (9/11, the election of Obama, and the fall of the Berlin Wall [although I was too young to remember it]) but last night is definitely a new one to add to the list.
Who would have thought that Donald Trump would become President of the United States? I certainty didn't have sufficient Simpsonesque-foresight to predict that! But it happened and it feels like the rules are about to shift.
I don't really want to go into why he won or whether its going to be good or bad for America, Canada or the world. Reams of ink has been and will be spilled on those topics by people much smarter than myself.
But I would like to pause for a moment and relate yesterday's events with my own personal experiences. When the Federal Conservatives won majority power in Canada in 2011 I was a civil servant in a temporary job I liked. When I saw the results come in my heart dropped into my stomach. The Conservatives had campaigned on cutting back and sure enough, within the year, I was gone (I'm simplifying things a bit but you get the picture). The feeling on that election night was visceral.
Interestingly, despite the obviously world-changing events of yesterday the feeling for me, personally, more abstract. I wouldn't have voted but Trump but then, he's not my President. I also know things are going to change, and many people will be affected (most obviously illegal immigrants and federal civil servants in the U.S.) but I doubt I will be directly impacted no matter what happens. That's probably true for most people around the world.
I hope that for people who disagree with the election outcome don't give up on democracy. There is always a next time and there are always opportunities to build for the future, even if only locally.
All this may be small comfort for many, especially those who view the rise of Donald Trump as representing a setback for universal progressive liberalism. There's probably nothing that will make them feel better....but I'm going to give it a shot with this short video of Margot and Jen running away from some fierce geese.
Run guys, run!
I don't feel smart enough to give any detailed analysis either but I feel less optimistic than you that the world at large will not be affected by the impact of the Trump administration. But Jen and Margot running away from the fierce geese does make me feel better, so many thanks for that ;)
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