What will be? A blog about election day anxiety…

I’ve heard it posited that if Gore had won the presidency in 2000, America might not have been surprised and vulnerable on September 11th, 2001. I’ve also heard it argued that if Trump had been elected in 2020, Iran’s power and money would have been limited, and October 7th, 2023, might not have terrorized Israel the way it did. Do I believe either of these statements are true? No – I don’t. Do I know for certain that they are untrue? No – I don’t.

In arguing for the importance of voting, all sides like to hypothesize about the world that could have been if previous elections had gone in a different direction. Typically, I ignore such musings, as not every day has historical ramifications. Today does, though. Today, America votes, and what is decided today will shape the next phase of world history.

I am often nervous on election day, but today, my fears are bigger than who and what will “win” as the ballots are counted. This year, I’m terrified that no matter what the results may be, there will be both seen and unforeseen ramifications on our world. Regardless of party identification, years of education, or political experience, there is no way to know precisely how today’s results will change our country and world’s story.

This awareness struck me while discussing an amendment on the Florida ballot this year. As I shared my anxiety about the importance of this vote with my father (someone I love deeply but disagree with passionately and often when discussing American politics), he argued that whether it passes or not, the story of reproductive freedom is not ending today. I argued that this moment meant everything. He challenged me to consider that all possible results could have both known and unseen outcomes. He said that whatever the result is, it could lead to a series of unknown cultural or communal responses that might eventually make reproductive freedoms more or less secure in our state and nation.  Hence, my anxiety grows. Thanks, Dad!

Gershom Scholem argues that there are “plastic” times when history is more flexible and bendable and when what happens has a more significant impact on the future. Such times allow the status quo to be upended and historical trajectories to change. This is a plastic hour—in that I am confident. All possible results could have both known and unseen results. We have no Nostradamus to guide us through our choices. All we can do is cast our vote based on the information we have. Only time will tell how the pliability of this moment in history will develop into tomorrow’s realities.

Many people feel confident that one choice or another is clearly better, and depending on your worldview, that might be true—but we don’t know all the ways today’s events will impact history. We may believe we know who or what the “correct” choice or the “better” choice is, but there is no way to know for sure all the different chains of events that will be kicked off as the election results roll in.

All we really know is that today will undoubtedly affect the future. So, unlike elections in years past, my fears will not be assuaged as the results become clear. I still long for results in line with my votes, but more than anything, I hope and pray for the wisdom and humanity of all those elected. Whoever you are, may you bring more goodness to our nation as you shape our precarious future.

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