November 11, 2024
Friends, I’m not ready to declare any day “happy” yet. It’s only been six days since at least 73.5 million people in this country gave their vote to Donald Trump, a convicted felon who idolizes autocratic dictators and who used racist, queerphobic, xenophobic, and misogynistic rhetoric extensively throughout his campaign. The last six days have been rough for many of us, not just those people who supported Harris, but more so for everyone in the groups he is preparing for physical, verbal, and mental assault. Less than 48 hours after the polls opened on Tuesday, Americans were planning their escape; pursuing every option from programs offering citizenship in other countries to preparing claims for political asylum.
If that sounds like an overreaction, then you need to check your privilege. The fact is that while larger than usual numbers of BIPOC people, particularly Latinae people, LGBTQIA+ people, and other marginalized identities voted for Trump, his base remained white people. As the data continues to be analyzed, it seems that white women and young white men voted for Trump in the largest numbers. There is little to fear in Trump’s vision for America if you are a young white man or woman. In fact, there is significantly more to look forward to for yourself, your friends, and your children.
In Isaiah 58, the supposedly righteous call out to God that they fast and they humble themselves, but God still doesn’t answer their prayers. God responds, “Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover them and not to hide yourself from your own kin?” (6-7). The only way we can get through this, the only way we can have any hope at all is to work together and keeping pushing forward. To paraphrase Bobby Sands, our revenge will be our laughter and our joy. And Kamala Harris said it best: We’re not going back.
How have you been processing and coping since the election? How are you getting back to work?
Let us pray: God, be at our backs as we press forward. Give us the courage of Martin, Bayard, and Fannie Lou; the imagination of César, Nelson, and Andy; the faith of Desmond, Troy, and Oscar; the tenacity of Marsha, George, and Harvey; the wisdom of Angela, Audre, and Allen; and the strength of John, Sylvia, and Ralph. Pour out the gifts of our ancestors who fought and lived so that we might have better lives. Make us like them. Amen.
Blessings on your weeks, my friends. Please let me know if there is anything I can do for you.
Faithfully and in Solidarity,
Ben
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