I have stayed largely silent on all things political, quietly watching and processing. I have some thoughts I feel led to share, and hope if you decide to read you will be respectful.
Not everyone who voted for Trump is a racist, misogynistic, ignorant, semi-automatic weapon wielding homophobe.
Not everyone who voted for Kamala is a trans activist pedophile groomer who hates white people and wants the Constitution to burn.
Looking at the election results at macro levels, it’s clear what the people have chosen. The election results map is red. Almost entirely red.
Looking at the election results at a more micro level, we are a nation divided almost right down the middle in what we are asking for. On average with a few exceptions (as an eyeball estimate on my part, not an accurate data analysis), it appears most wins are between 2-5 percentage points, with the presidential election right down the middle of that at a 3% victory margin in the popular vote.
What do I think this means? I think we need to stop listening to the canned talking points of legacy media, academic elites, media elites, and social influencers with a polarizing, marked agenda.
I think we need to stop, shake off the fog, and look at our neighbors and see them as people. As the parents our kids go to school with, our local legislators, educators, business owners, administrators, and more. We need to sit down at the logical, reasonable adult table and listen to each other and come up with REAL solutions to REAL issues.
No matter how you feel about the results of the election, there are many serious issues we need to tackle in the coming days and we the people will have to decide on how to move forward. Will we continue to gnash our teeth and point angry fingers? Will we continue to scream hateful labels at people who disagree with us and accuse them of evil when we don’t even know them at a personal level? Or will be seek to listen and understand, seek to create solutions and accountability that build the framework for opportunity and the strengthening of first our neighborhoods and communities, then our states, our nations, and ultimately, the world?
Among the issues we have intense and complex problems to be solved on the not-so-minor topics of world war, the economy, public health, education, border security, managing religious and ideological differences and determining the role of government in that space.
Much information and many definitions and facts have been horribly clouded and miscommunicated. We the people do not know where to look or who to believe. Many on both sides are intensely frightened about the availability of medical care, personal safety and security, and the safety and security of their families. This is a bipartisan issue.
The legacy media, academic elites, media elites, and social influencers with a polarizing, marked agenda have spread these messages of fear. For the sake of control. For the sake of making money. For the sake of making the laypeople of the United States hate each other so there can be no unified uprising against corruption, should we choose to dig a little deeper into the messaging. Money and power flow into the hands of fewer and fewer as we the people are moved as pawns on a global chessboard we are hard pressed to be able to see.
It is truly a pivotal point in the history of our nation.
My prayer and the hope of my heart is that We the People – the largely silent majority – not the elites, not the fringe ideologues – decide on civility, mutual respect, and unity. That we can come together to solve real problems affecting the prosperity, security, and happiness of ourselves, our families, our neighbors, our nation. That we present a strong front to those outside of our country who would gladly see us weaken and perish.
May we choose to listen to those with influence who dig to find the truth, who are broad and critical thinkers. May we have the discernment to know who those people are.
May we, as citizens of this country – listen, examine, and work together to find that the United States of America is worth the challenge. Let’s do the work and pave the way for a brighter future together.
Sindy Hankins 