A single tear fell down my cheek as I walked out of the county commission office. Thinking back to the ballot I cast in 2016, I could never have imagined the hope I would one day feel voting for a woman president and a Democratic candidate. I think we all experience a shift in how we see the world when we step out from the protection of our parents or guardians and encounter the real adult world on our own for the first time.
Growing up as a pastor’s daughter in a conservative household, I never once thought to question these things or form my own opinions; I simply believed what my trusted advisors told me.
Today, however, I walk into rooms carrying the values I learned in a Christian household—to “love thy neighbor” and to “feed and clothe the poor.” I spend most of my weekends working at a land trust that has conserved over 12,000 acres in Tennessee, supporting conservation and environmental efforts. I work with organizations that back climate action and fight for the basic rights of all people. Yet I’ve encountered more hostility and disdain from some of those who originally instilled these values in me—people who preach compassion but often fail to show it.
I had hoped to write this in triumph, shedding tears of joy that we finally broke the glass ceiling, that our country took a stand for the rights of all people. But instead, I find myself shedding different tears—tears of fear for the future of myself, my daughter, and countless others I love. These are tears of disappointment, that in a country I’ve been taught is “the greatest place to live,” there are so many who prioritize the price of gas over protecting human lives.
For me and many others, this election was never about supporting a specific party or even the best policies. I spent most of my life as a right-leaning Republican, and while my views have evolved over the years, I don’t hate conservatives—I can often understand their conviction to do what they believe is right. But I cannot comprehend how anyone could say that Donald Trump is “appointed by God” or claim he aligns with a God who despises evil, when his actions have consistently shown self-interest above all else.
As I’ve watched him sow division across the country, stirring anger especially among baby boomers and even younger generations, I am appalled. This week, I’ve seen people protest, arguing that women and Black Americans are "property" of white men. I’ve seen hateful messages flood Facebook. I am horrified to see people wearing shirts that say “Daddy’s Home” about a man accused of sexual assault by at least 26 women, who faces 34 felonies, multiple rape allegations, and who incited an attack on the Capitol—and yet none of this disqualifies him from the highest office in our country.
But as I watch a woman who has fought with grace and dignity concede in such a powerful way, and as I hear her words of hope that we won’t stop fighting, I feel inspired once again. I am lucky to know powerful women, and one thing I know about them is that they never back down from a fight. We may concede this election with grace, but we will not stop fighting for our rights. I am moved by the beautiful stories of support from around the world. I am strengthened by friends who have checked in on me, reminding me that I am loved. I know this fight will never be easy, but I know it will always be worth it.
So, I will continue to grieve and take space from the negativity on social media. I will continue to feel hurt as I watch family members and people I thought cared for me celebrate, while millions of Americans feel terror and heartbreak. I know this weight is heavy for so many, and that this world has become a bit darker, but there is still hope. There are still 67 million people in this country who voted alongside you, and many of them will continue this fight with you.
If you are reading this from a different perspective, I hope you can do so with compassion. I hope you see the harm this man has spread across the country and consider that it’s okay to change your mind and join the fight for something better. I truly believe many will, once they witness the consequences of this leadership. And finally, remember that Donald Trump or Kamala Harris will likely never see your Facebook posts or Instagram stories, but the people you claim to love will. If celebrating a rapist and felon feels more important to you than supporting the people around you who are hurting, then I genuinely struggle to feel empathy for you.
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