Friday, November 11, 2016

300. I am not rooting for Donald Trump.

I am not rooting for Donald Trump. Yes, I accept that he will be my president in January. No, I am not moving to Canada. I don’t want to see a single iota of the hatred and vileness that he preached on the campaign trail to succeed. Sure, I’m rooting for him to not destroy the world, but that’s really about it. I rooted for Obama. Lots of Republicans said that as well when he got elected, look how they treated him. So, no, I’m not going to root for Donald Trump.

Here’s what I am rooting for instead:

I am rooting for this country to succeed in spite of the many vile things that Trump represents. I am rooting for democracy. I am rooting for more people to vote. I am rooting for people to get involved in their civic organizations, their places of worship, and in their government. I am rooting for free speech, freedom to assemble, and freedom of the press.

I am rooting for people to stand up to racism and sexism. I am rooting for Black Lives Matter. I am rooting for immigrants who want to come here to make a better life for themselves and their families. I am rooting for refugees to make it here safe and to feel welcomed. I am rooting for the good cops who just want to do their job well and get home safe. I am rooting for my fellow white males to stand up to racism, sexism, and homophobia. I am rooting for the Nasty Women in my life.  I am rooting for my friends of color, and in the LGBTQ community to feel welcome, safe, and loved, and to succeed. I am rooting for peace and reconciliation between disparate groups.

I am rooting for my “other”, the groups who I have unknowingly demonized and stigmatized, to succeed in spite of my ignorance. I am rooting for people to get out of their bubbles, off of their phones, and into healthy, robust conversations with people unlike themselves. I am rooting for self-reflection and fewer angry tweet storms. I am rooting for healing. I am rooting for people not to be so arrogant. I am rooting for people to feel less self-righteous.

I am rooting for the people who got left behind these past few years. I am rooting for small towns and tight-knit communities. I am rooting for businesses who are committed to creating good jobs. I am rooting for labor unions. I am rooting for small businesses and entrepreneurs. I am rooting for those who just want to do their job, raise their family, and help their community. I am rooting for the people who feel like they just can’t hang on to hang on for one more day. I am rooting for the mentors, the hug-givers, the people who provide a listening ear.

I am rooting for our veterans to get help that they need. I am rooting for them to succeed as they reenter society. I am rooting for our military leaders to make wise decisions.

I am rooting for our teachers. I am rooting for students to succeed in spite of schools that are behind on repairs and lack the proper materials to succeed. I am rooting for people to feel empowered by education. I am rooting for knowledge to become cool again.

I am rooting for those scientists and policy makers who are relentlessly fighting against global warming. I am rooting for those developing clean energy. I am rooting for organic farmers. I am rooting for those who want to leave this planet better than they found it.

I am rooting for kindness. I am rooting for civility in our discourse. I am rooting for compassion and empathy. I am rooting to give people the benefit of the doubt. I am rooting for people to write to their congressperson. I am rooting for people to feel empowered by democracy.

I am rooting for a safe, healthy future. I am rooting for little girls who want to become president. I am rooting for little boys who want to do great things. I am rooting for people to not feel overwhelmed by all of this.

I am rooting for you, tell me what you want to do and what you want to do, and I will root for you.


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