Go higher

I’m writing this on the morning of November 8—Election Day. It’s still early and, therefore, foolish to try to predict the outcome of the presidential race.

But I’m keeping the faith that, by the time you read this, our nation will not only have elected its first woman president, it will also have rejected racism, misogyny, xenophobia and any other incitements of hate and fear-mongering.

Whatever the outcome, however, there are bigger questions we must address: Where do we go from here? How do we unite instead of divide?

Throughout this contentious election Donald Trump has worked, relentlessly, to normalize a deep hatred and suspicion of almost anything that falls outside the old, white, male power structure.

In doing so he emboldened and empowered this country’s worst factions. He also gave voice to those who feel disenfranchised and marginalized in a world that’s ever diversifying.

It’s time to shut down the racists, misogynists and xenophobes. There’s no room in this country for the KKK, anti-Semites, homophobes, sexual predators, etc.

But where does that leave someone like my 80-something Texas relative—a man who’s essentially kind, but also fearful of change and the unknown?

How do we bring people like him into the future? It’s a question I’ve wrestled with during this entire election cycle and I thought about him as I cast my vote for Hillary Clinton.

It won’t be easy, but we can’t give into our own fears or sink to anger. In doing so we only give into their fears and sink to their anger as well.

To echo Michelle Obama, It’s time to go higher. It’s the only choice.