So when I started this blog, I was not going to use it as a monologue of my life or experiences.  Strictly fun and adventure as I pursued my pinterest project list.  But this week has been occupied with other things and tomorrow we leave to attend a “Quilts of Valor” ceremony for my brother-in-law who served a tour of duty in Iraq and one in Afghanistan. No time for a project.  And then something happened tonight that I felt I need to write about in this format.  Maybe it’s just for me, but maybe what I have to say will resonate with someone else.

I am grateful to live in this country where I am blessed with so many freedoms and I am indebted to and grateful for those, like my brother-in-law, who have sacrificed so much to ensure that we get to keep those freedoms.  This week I am especially grateful for the right we have to participate in the political process of this country.

This election has been a difficult one for this country.  The candidates we had to choose from were less than ideal.  It was very hard for many of us to decide where we would put our trust.  The campaign took America through hell.  Creating a bigger division among the people than ever before as each person began to align themselves with a candidate.  And the media had a heyday.  Pitting us all against one another.  I tried to stay away from Facebook as much as I could because I didn’t want to have my opinions of others affected by their comments or choices.  And I tried to keep my thoughts and opinions to a minimum.  They were rare.  All our feelings  ran high in this election as much for a candidate as against a candidate.

My daughter had to do a project for her civics class where she asked 25 people who they thought would win the election.  My brother said it best when he said, “No one wins.  We all lose.”

Last night I stayed up late to watch the results.  I hadn’t intended to watch.  In fact, I had planned to go to bed because it just felt like a train wreck I didn’t want to see.  But as I watch the surprise turn of events I couldn’t look away.  I was shocked to see that Trump actually pulled it off against all odds.  And yes, I did vote for Trump. Not because I think he is such a wonderful person but because I could not vote for Hillary.  But the reasons for my vote are not really important to this monologue. Yes, I was pleased by the results.

Today, I continued to be in disbelief at the outcome as I watched the news reports and the speeches given by  Hillary and Trump.  I had sympathy for the supporters of Hillary.  Afterall, it could just have easily been the other way around.

It wasn’t until this evening that I truly got riled up and I don’t get easily riled up.  It was a mistake….I should have known better…. I pulled up Facebook.  There were posts all over the place slamming Trump.  Okay, I can overlook that… until I read one that a friend had posted.  The author spent the majority of the article describing all Trump supporters as bigoted, selective, white supremacists.  I just couldn’t keep quiet.  So I commented…..

“I have to emphatically disagree with this author’s assumption of what Trump supporters believe. I voted for Trump and I absolutely do not believe in the things this guy says I believe in. Nor do any of the Trump supporters I know. I did not vote for Trump because I think he’s such a great candidate, I voted for him ( Iike many, many others) because I could not vote for Hillary. This election has done a great deal to divide the people of this country and I put the blame for that squarely on both sides as well as the media.

This country needs a lot of healing and that does not begin with Trump( although he has plenty to repair), it starts with we,the people. I am sorry for the despair and sorrow I see in those who supported Hillary. It could have easily been the other way around. What I would ask is that despite our sorrow or joy over this that we all pray, and pray hard. This country needs it, the people need it and heaven knows Donald Trump needs it. May God bless America and ALL it’s people.”

After a few back and forth comments about disagreeing with each other but we can still be friends another friend chimed in with…

“So disappointed Kim”

I should have left it there but ….

My response: ” Don’t mind that your disappointed in me. I voted my conscience and I am good with that.”

From there it just went down hill.  I felt completely and personally attacked and unfairly judged for voting my conscience, for using my freedoms to vote as I felt was best.

” But Trump? That’s a whole different level of crazy. The office of the Presidency has been forever diminished by this immoral man. And what’s crazy is you likely support him because you think he’ll be good on your issues; you have no basis for that judgement. He has no guiding values. He has no vision other then self-promotion. He’ll betray you just as quickly as it’s in his interest to do so.”

Facebook reminded me today that I had posted the following, exactly one year ago today

“Over the past several years I have noticed a shift in society. Through the sensationalism of news reporting and the increased use of social media, we seem to be a much more judgemental society. ( and this is coming from someone who will openly admit she is far too judgemental). As various stories have come out in the news and on social media, highlighting the very controversial aspect of every conceivable event and/ or comment, we as a society seem to feed on it like a pack of hungry wolves. Ready to accuse, condemn and crucify anyone or anything at a moments notice without thought for compassion or an attempt at understanding. And sometimes we even do it in the name of compassion or protection of something else, thinking it must justify our own reactions. We have truly become a society of brother against brother and frankly, I find it frightening.”

Those words still apply today and my conflict with friends this evening just shows how little things have improved in the last year.  It truly saddens me far more than the outcome of any election.