lib·er·al

/ˈlib(ə)rəl/

adjective

1. Willing to respect or accept behavior or opinions different from one’s own; open to new ideas.

We lost this time. Not for the first time and not for the last. But we will win again and I believe someday we will win it all. Every time that wheel turns around, it’s bound to cover a little more ground, and backlashes are the major force in American politics these days.

We know now that in the short term our government is going to be an adversary rather than an ally in the struggle for justice and freedom. It has been that way before. For women, people of color, and those with non-traditional views of gender and sexuality it has been that way for most of our history. But we have done more than endure. We have overcome. We shall again.

It is sobering – my least favorite condition – to know that a lot of Americans think white men should run everything. Tragically, it’s not just white men who feel that way. Many white women, and some men of color, share the feeling. Not too many women of color are that stupid. Neither are a good number of white men.

Our responsibilities – to ourselves and each other – are not changed one bit by the results of this, or any, election.

There are advantages to being the group out of power, free from its trappings. Most of the advances in human civilization come from scientists and artists, not politicians. Now, we get to be the ones on the sidelines shouting “you fucking idiots” at their inevitable failures.

There is also some comfort in knowing that, like monarchy, the Confederacy, and Nazism, the MAGA cult will be crushed into dust by the great boulder of time. Time does that to every movement built on the concept that some people are inherently superior to others.

We shall overcome.

We shall overcome
We shall overcome
We shall overcome, someday
Oh, deep in my heart
I know that I do believe
We shall overcome, someday

We shall be alright
We shall be alright
We shall be alright, someday
Oh, deep in my heart
I know that I do believe
We shall overcome, someday

We shall live in peace
We shall live in peace
We shall live in peace, someday
Oh, deep in my heart
I know that I do believe
We shall overcome, someday

We are not afraid (oh Lord)
We are not afraid (oh Lord)
We are not afraid, today
Oh, deep in my heart
I know that I do believe
We shall overcome, someday

We shall overcome (oh Lord)
We shall overcome (oh Lord)
We shall overcome, someday
Oh, deep in my heart
I know that I do believe
We shall overcome, someday