In the aftermath of the Trump election earthquake, pundits are still sifting through the ruins, looking for causes. The shambles of still smoking expectations resemble the landscape of a dystopian fantasy.
Shocked and dismayed, some wander the information highway like philosophical zombies searching for meaning. Others gather into distraught groups standing with scrawled signs, crying out their anger, grief and disappointment to the pitiless sky.
For many, including me, the suddenness of this new reality came out of the blue. We would have been less surprised if large UFO monoliths suddenly appeared in the skies. The reality is a temblor measuring at least 6 on the Richter scale, enough to crumble old beliefs and assumptions.
Many progressives have stuck their heads in the sand, declaring with absolute certainty that Trump's election was simply more evidence of discrimination against a woman becoming President (similar to the way many on the left were quick to dismiss any criticism of Obama as racism). Of course there are misogynists and racists in the general public, but I contend that those prejudices are less of a factor than the issue of Trust.
In case you hadn't noticed, plenty of women and minorities have been getting elected and appointed to important posts in government and business internationally. Remember Golda Meir, Maggie Thatcher, Angela Merkel? In recent decades, there has been a steady quota of about 20 female heads of state in the world.
There are six incumbent female Governors in the USA. Currently 125 elected members of congress/senate are Women. So this is the reality that Hillary supporters must come to grips with: it wasn't her gender that lost the race.
I am convinced that whatever latent prejudices a person might have, they will vote for the person that they believe will do the best job.
Time will tell whether these beliefs were well-founded in last week's election.
3 comments:
I realize that, being from MA, you look at the glass as half empty. But the majority of U.S. voters saw it as being half full. But you are right about Hellary not really being a victim of sexism. She was just a rotten candidate ... in more ways than one. But she will not be truly defeated until someone turns up with that proverbial wooden stake,
GWP,
As a duly-sworn officer of the Metaphor Police, I must point out that it is not a GLASS that is half-full/empty; it is a BASKET. Thank you.
Aha! ... that has been our recent frustration ... we have been carrying our water in a basket ...
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