America Backslides
Serious instability is in our near future
Oblivious is the word that kept coming to mind as I lie awake in the early morning hours of November 6th. I wished I was oblivious to our current political landscape. I wished I could rewind my mind back to pre-2008 years when I was less informed about politics and governance. I wished I was as oblivious as those who for shallow reasons voted for someone that could care less about them and very much intends to harm them. I wished I was oblivious so that I could get a good night’s sleep.
Yet I wasn’t oblivious and I did not sleep well. The reason I didn’t sleep well wasn’t because I was surprised at the outcome. I didn’t sleep well because the electorate made a serious mistake. Heavy hearts abound not because we are shocked but because we are hyper-aware of the ramifications. Disgust is widespread because this was an affront to everything the United States stands for. Anyone who disagrees with this sentiment should refresh themselves on what America stands for. Not what you believe America stands for. Not what you perceive America stands for. But what our founding documents actually say.
Many of us are depleted because we gave everything we had and ran on fumes to avoid this wrong turn. Again I wasn’t surprised but I set out to believe that America would do the right thing until the results told me otherwise. Well the results told me otherwise and I have deep sorrow for our nation. I have deep sorrow for the world. Contrary to what disappointed and frustrated souls may say, we don’t deserve this. We don’t deserve chaos, cruelty, lawlessness and oppression. Our right to Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness is inalienable, self-evident and endowed by our Creator, remember?
The charge of our nation is to perfect our union. Instead, 70+ million people backslid and voted for someone that has perfected our division. Instead 70+ million people backslid and chose someone that was an avatar for their anger, discontent, immaturity and rebel fantasy. I understand completely why someone chose to vote for this person. Cowardice, apathy, confusion, ignorance, anger, hatred, and fear are what brought about this result. Immaturity brought about this result.
We missed the mark. Yes, the United States of America has missed the mark many times in the past, but that does not excuse missing the mark in 2024. The mark has never been out of reach and it wasn’t out of reach this time around. To those who say we’ve been through worse, I say we aren’t supposed to regress. It’s one thing if we maintain the status quo, but to go backwards is unacceptable. We shouldn’t voluntarily test our national resilience. We’re supposed to protect our progress.
You know periodically over the years, I would wish to have been a fly on the wall in the 1960s during the height of the Civil Rights Movement. It was such a storied time. But I would remind myself that those that lived and fought through that era did so so that I wouldn’t have to know what that time was like. Whatever I found to be unfathomable about that era and all that occurred before is supposed to remain unfathomable.
To all those who say God is still on the throne I say, God was on the throne throughout our tumultuous history. God has given us the tools, wisdom, guidance, leadership, and wherewithal to steer clear of a backslidden state. Yet 70+ million people couldn’t resist the temptation despite being warned. Yet 70+ million people did not answer the high call of America and we will suffer the consequences.
So what happens now? How do we impose stability on what we suspect to be unfathomable instability? Well in the immediate short-term we need to replenish our physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual energy. Personally, I’m reducing my news intake. I’m not interested in all the hand-wringing and blame games. I also have no interest in bearing first-hand witness to more chaos and division.
As for the instability that awaits us, I do not know if all that can happen will happen. My prayer is for mercy. My prayer is that the fallout not be as bad as forecasted. What has brought about some comfort is the realization that the hubris and grandiosity of the incoming administration might just be their undoing. They very well could collapse under the weight of their own chaos and confusion.
For now, I recommend that we take this time to recover from the hit we just took. We need to clear our minds, settle our hearts and protect our spirit from further injury before resuming the heavy lift of national course correcting.
Onward with self-care and Harmonious Balance my friends,
Johanna
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You wrote my thoughts for me. Thank you. 🙏🏾
As you said, the world is shocked in the face of so much stupidity. Dangerous times ahead. We must be strong anyway.