#MicroblogMondays 116: How It Begins

by Mel

27 comments

1 Nabanita { 11.14.16 at 5:17 am }

I hope things get better. I hope people try and see that kindness matters. I wonder when we can just embrace each other instead of embracing hate. I can only say, hugs and hope everything works out and all these incidents stop. Take care

2 No Baby Ruth { 11.14.16 at 5:55 am }

I, too, am pretty wrapped up in all of this, finding it difficult to sleep and difficult to concentrate at work, and I’m an ocean away! Yesterday I got into a FB “discussion” with my uncle, a Trump-voter and, apparently, defender. He suggested these hate crimes were being “sensationalized,” and quoted the SPLC’s number of 201 as if it were insignificant. That alone made me want to cry (and smack him).

3 Parul Thakur { 11.14.16 at 8:07 am }

Oh! That’s sad and scary. Sorry to hear about these hateful messages and acts. I just hope that things get better and authorities take some action. 911 calls or anything else that helps restore the situation.

4 Lori Shandle-Fox { 11.14.16 at 8:29 am }

I feel a little like I did while I was still living in NYC after 9/11. Everybody looked the same and seemed to be going on with life as usual, but I feel an underlying feeling of being very disturbed. It’s different here where there are a lot of Trump supporters (even though he lost our county big-time). My daughter keeps asking me: “Are we in danger?” I feel like this is how Nazi Germany got started. People who felt underappreciated, underacknowledged and oppressed got fed a lot of “make Germany great again” crappola. I think the fact that you live in such a liberal area is part of the reason it’s happening there. All of those people who felt hidden all those years feel like they’ve been given the license to let their frustrations and anger be heard in any way they see fit. Welcome to my state where the largest KKK celebration parade is planned for next month.

5 Modern Gypsy { 11.14.16 at 8:44 am }

I too watched the vote in stunned disbelief. And though I live a continent away, this result shook me to the core. I do hope these hate crimes stop…

6 Lori Lavender Luz { 11.14.16 at 9:09 am }

I’m trying to accept that I have limited effect on the world outside me, so I am trying to focus on the world within. This is a strange interplay between feeling disempowered and even fearful, and feeling gratitude and actual joy. Very strange to sit with all these feelings.

7 Kaeleigh { 11.14.16 at 9:11 am }

Considering my micro today is on the Trump win I would say that, even here in Canada, it is still a main focus.

8 Charlotte { 11.14.16 at 9:15 am }

This is unfortunate, and upsetting, and sad. It was an election, and one side had to lose. The winner was declared in the same way every president for the US has been declared since 1787 (or 1804 depending on how specific you want to get.)
That being sad, it in unfair to judge supporters by the worst of the people. In the big picture, that is only a very small fraction of us, and the very vast majority do not share those sentiments nor condone the behavior. Just as the majority of Democratic supporters do not condone the violent protesters coming from their side.
I wish both sides would speak out and directly address the violence and call for an end to all of it, for the good of the country.

9 SRB { 11.14.16 at 9:19 am }

It is interesting that you say you don’t feel safe – I don’t think anyone should feel safe. Right now, safety is where the danger is. This cannot be normalized. This is not normal. It is not okay.

I am looking forward to reading about kindness… we need a shit ton of it now, and for a long while to come.

10 Stephanie (Travelcraft Journal) { 11.14.16 at 10:32 am }

Makes me feel ill. Do you know if anyone is collecting and documenting all these stories anywhere? Is there a hashtag or a Tumblr or anything? I feel like a lot of people are in denial about the hate crimes and it could be really powerful to have the incidents all together.

11 Cristy { 11.14.16 at 10:53 am }

Today has been a day where the tears threatening to come. These acts of hate are from those who are cowards. Those who feel the need to bully because they don’t know how to exist any other way. It’s not what this nation or global community needs right now. What is needed is love. From removing that graffiti to openly embracing those who are threatened. It needs to start local in order to grow and it needs to be fostered. Because I for one refuse to let the bullies win. To allow them to make us feel unsafe in this world. I’m working to repair that safety net but also to educate so we can better understand the monsters that for too long have lurked under the bed. Sending you love and beyond grateful for all the love you and this community have sent me.

12 Traci York { 11.14.16 at 11:32 am }

I’m currently at a loss for words, and don’t see that changing any time soon.

13 Chris { 11.14.16 at 12:17 pm }

Stephanie in response to your question- Yes! He may not have them all but Shaun King is gathering them and publishing them on Facebook. Following him will chill you to your bones I’m afraid, but yes he does appear to be gathering all these incidences.

14 Karen { 11.14.16 at 1:03 pm }

I swear I’ve had a nonstop panic attack since last week, Mel. I feel a little better, and then I read a story and it freaks me the fuck out again. I don’t know how I’m going to do this for four years unless I disconnect, but then I freak out because what if my disconnecting made it so I didn’t do enough to fight this hatred? I don’t feel like I can afford to disconnect. So I just sit here, quietly panicking.

15 Journeywoman { 11.14.16 at 2:13 pm }

I’m so sorry about Josh’s co-worker.
I’ve been panicking and then angry. I step away from social media. I go back and post a million things all day.
I’m working.
Learn who your state representatives are. Find out all you can. Get involved.
And call your friends who love you.

16 Wendy English { 11.14.16 at 2:41 pm }

The hate crimes need to stop. I am sorry it is hitting close to home.
It is so hard to know what to say these days and so much has already been said. You have a large forum here. I say post away about what’s on your mind for as long as you need to. Hopefully it’s cathartic?

17 Mary Francis { 11.14.16 at 3:10 pm }

Same phenomenon in U.K. It’s like Brexit victory and US General Election gave vile people a mandate to be do terrible things. God help us all.

18 Working mom of 2 { 11.14.16 at 3:52 pm }

Karen: same here.

I’m so tired of Trump supporters minimizing the hate crimes and trying to compare peaceful protests as though “both sides are doing it”. I’m scared for a lot of people.

19 JustHeather { 11.14.16 at 3:53 pm }

I feel a bit removed from it over here, but not fully. My dad told me of stuff that has been going on in the high school my little hometown. 🙁 they’re just kids!

20 loribeth { 11.14.16 at 4:44 pm }

I write about this a bit in my post. The rise in hate crimes, especially among kids, is incredibly disturbing. 🙁 And I feel a wedge that wasn’t there before, between me & some of my Trump-voting family members & friends. Most of them are good people who voted for what they felt were valid reasons, including feeling neglected by people in Washington & wanting to “drain the swamp.” I think they are going to be bitterly disappointed when Trump & Co. fail to live up to their very high expectations.

21 Valery { 11.14.16 at 4:52 pm }

Fearful here in the Netherlands too. We have a look a like politician, same blond hair, similar ideas of intolerance (although pro Jewish) who also seems to gather momentum.. Not sure what the trend in local hate crimes is at the moment, and I will not touch my newspaper as long as it reports on mr T all the time.

22 Jess { 11.14.16 at 7:46 pm }

I am so sorry. The stories just keep rolling in, seemingly each worst than the last, and then I hear that in an interview yesterday Trump looked into the camera and told people to stop, like he wasn’t the impetus for feeling you could do these things freely in the first place. Argh. There is a person I went to high school with who has been discrediting all of these events as “media backlash” and “probably done by liberals to make Trump look bad.” HOW CRAZY IS THAT? I know he’s not alone. I am not feeling good a week in. I am feeling like kindness is distinctly lacking, on both sides, and it makes me sad for humanity. I have hope that it will get better, but I fear things will get a lot worse before they turn a corner. We live in scary times. I think if it’s helpful to write about it to attempt processing the madness, then write about it all you want. And I would love a little dose of kindness mind game. 🙂

23 Deathstar { 11.14.16 at 8:38 pm }

We’re not insulated here in Canada, trust me, the effects of the Tump win are being felt here. I mentioned it on my post today. The sun still rose and life goes on, but just like after 9/11, the world feels different and not in a good way.

24 Emma @ Muddy Boots and Diamonds { 11.14.16 at 8:57 pm }

I’m totally where Karen is. I want to delete FB/twitter and totally disconnect, but at the same time, I feel I need to know what’s happening. Being silent isn’t helpful and disconnecting will make me silent. And uninformed, which I think is dangerous right now. I’m seriously considering going back on anxiety meds and I had just gotten to a place where I felt normal without them. I don’t think I can do this for 4 or 8 years. And it’s totally possible we’ll have 8 years of this.

The only thing that’s changed since last week is that I’m not crying. I saw this coming. Several people saw this coming. And no one believed it could happen. I’m just as angry and I feel just as betrayed by those I love who voted for him as I was last week. I still feel like I have so much to say and nothing to say at the same time. It’s making #NaBloPoMo difficult for me this year 😉

25 katherinea12 { 11.15.16 at 7:20 am }

I’m so sorry that this is happening in your community. That so many acts of hatred are happening around the country is horrifying. Like you, I keep thinking, “okay, I’m going to think/talk/write about something else” but what’s going on demands a response. I totally relate to what Karen (above) wrote about the almost constant anxiety and panic, because I feel that too. 4 (or – and I don’t even want to truly contemplate this right now – 8) years of this is far, far too much.

26 a { 11.15.16 at 4:23 pm }

I’m just angry. And I don’t want to hear the excuses.

27 Amber { 11.18.16 at 1:04 am }

It really is disgusting. I have heard (at least in my state) that most of the people involved in the hate crimes and not-peaceful-protests, didn’t even vote. So wrong.