Across The Great Divide

Here’s the deal… and I say this knowing I thought the world would end with Reagan’s election. Yes, much is at stake, and people on both sides of The Great Divide that constitutes America, have fears and passions and firmly, deeply held beliefs.

I get why Trump chills you to the bone. I even get why Harris legitimately scares people. (Misogyny, homophobia, racism, etc. are not legit reasons.) The  Democratic party and the GOP have both changed – unfortunately, for the worse.

But if all you can hear is your echo chamber, all you can see are the demons on the other side, and refuse honest introspection, that’s also a major loss.

I remember how much Biden pissed me off four years ago, talking about unity. I felt it was the language, the blindness of patriarchy – because it puts the onus on the abused. We cannot unite with our abuser.

But we can work harder to find common ground with reasonable people who see the world differently. A squidge less self-righteousness, a tiny bit more empathy and understanding. Myself definitely included.

Here’s my deal… I have been through way more fcking hell than I have shared – even with all I share. So much more than most of you know.

I take the ramifications of politics and this election very seriously. But I know – I know – we will get through this. Some of us will suffer, some of us will prosper, some of us will thrive, some of us will be persecuted, some will survive, some, terribly sadly, will not.

We will confront heartbreak.

As long as we are breathing there is hope.

The election will not end this. As difficult as it is to imagine, it will only be the beginning.

But I believe in the hard, hard, hard work of healing. I have insights that have tormented me over the years. Yet I have also seen that in the face of unimaginable cruelty and tragedy and despair, progress can be made  and hope can flourish.

I say all of this to all of Israel, as well, with a heart full of love and compassion.