Wow, Part II

Your success as a family... our success as a nation... depends not on what happens inside the White House, but on what happens inside your house. -Barbara Bush 

Oh God. I'm posting twice in a day. It's just that... watching the posts on social media today has been painful.

One of the most beautiful things about democracy in the United States is the peaceful transition of power. We all agree that the winner has won. Not all of us agree with that person's proposed policies, but we move forward together, to make the country better.

I understood completely, after this insanely bitter campaign, that the loser's supporters, no matter who lost, would be angry, frustrated and fearful of what the country will be for the next four years. I also understood that the winner's supporters, no matter who won, would be jubilant and immensely relieved that things went their way. (We "lesser of two evils" and "no thanks to either one" folks have been drowning our general disappointment in alcohol and Häagen-Dazs for months now.)

The campaigns are over. Obama, Trump and Clinton have been very gracious and optimistic. Voter bickering and negativity will taper off in the coming days as emotions calm. I'm giving people room to vent or celebrate as they see fit, without writing them off, but there are a couple of things it makes me sad to see:

1) Trumpers talking smack about HC. You won. Just be positive and move forward. This is the part where the winners are gracious. Even before Clinton's and Obama's speeches this morning, a couple of my staunchly Democratic friends made heartfelt posts on social media, accepting the results and vowing to support the new president. If shocked and disappointed voters can muster that, surely the winners can stop sniping and pave the way for peaceful conversation again.

2) Clintoners fear-mongering. The president isn't king. He/she operates within the confines of the Constitution, which has checks and balances. Shame on those who have instilled irrational fear in their children, in particular. Your kids will suffer long after you've realized that life goes on. And don't even get me started on what I think of the comparison of voting day to 9/11. Jeezus. Really?

We're not Democrats first. We're not Republicans first. We are Americans first. We're patriots first. -Barack Obama