I am terrified — but not hopeless

I woke up today to the soft tune of birdsong outside of my window. After a sleepless, fitful night, it felt like a small respite. But it didn’t last long. Within minutes, I was overwhelmed by that same feeling of dread and despair that had occupied the entire night before. Put simply: I am terrified.

Yesterday, half of America voted to elect a man that nearly the entire country was certain couldn’t win. And while that half of our nation is celebrating now, I am terrified.

I am terrified for women. I’m terrified that free and able access to reproductive health care will be revoked. I’m terrified that women’s rights will continue to be threatened. I am terrified that we are sending a message to our young girls that misogyny and sexual assault is okay by electing a man who has bragged about such acts.

I am terrified for the LGBTQ+ community. I’m terrified that discrimination against members of that community will become more widespread. I’m terrified that much of the progress that we’ve made in the last eight years will be erased in the next eight. I am terrified that freedom and equal rights for all will become a distant memory.

I am terrified for Muslims. I’m terrified that we will see an increase in violence and suspicion against practitioners of that faith. I’m terrified that we will bar Muslims from entering our country. I’m terrified that America — founded as a bastion of religious freedom — will become an ideologically charged nation of one religion’s values.

I am terrified for people of color. I’m terrified that people who have lived in this country for decades will get deported. I’m terrified that race relations will continue to become worse — and eventually erupt into violence. I am terrified that minority groups in this country will become increasingly marginalized.

I am terrified for those in economic disparity. I’m terrified for the 22 million people that will likely lose their health insurance. I’m terrified that another economic crash will drive more and more people onto the streets. I am terrified that we will do nothing as the rich get richer, and the rest of us fall through the cracks.

I am terrified for journalism. I’m terrified that we will see a backlash against the hard-working reporters in this country. I’m terrified that we will see a stifling of the free press. I am absolutely terrified that one of the last bastions of hope against an authoritarian government will be irreparably weakened due to one man’s inability to accept criticism.

Yes, I am terrified. Not a minute has gone by since Tuesday’s results where I have not felt anxious for the fate of our country. Never have I felt more homeless in the land I’m supposed to call my own.

But, despite all of that, I have faith. I have faith that we will persevere.

America will pull through. We won’t stoop to the level that our President-Elect has dragged our country to. We won’t let white nationalism, sexism, racism, xenophobia or homophobia prevail. We won’t let one man and one Congress pull apart our institutions, our ideals, or everything else we love about our great nation.

I have faith in America. I have faith that truth, justice and love will win out. I faith that the American people will do what is right, and will fight tooth and claw against injustice — even those who, by voting, put us in such an uncomfortable position.

My only hope is that you share this same hope, too. Don’t let these results ruin your resolve, and don’t wallow in a pit of existential anguish. We cannot let this election be our defeat. Now, more than ever, we need to pull together. Like iron and carbon forged in the heat of a furnace, I have faith that we will only come out stronger.

Don’t give up quite yet; we have work to do.