I Won't Just Get Over It

I am tired of white men saying, “The election is done. Just get over it.” I am not going to “get over it.” We are not going to “get over it.”

For the next four years, parents will have to explain to their children why the people in the highest levels of our government demean others and don’t tell the truth. It makes it harder for parents to teach their children compassion, integrity, how to be kind, how to include everyone, and how the truth is important. Parents are not going to “just get over it.”

For the next four years, teachers will have to explain to their students why it is okay for those in the highest levels of our government to ignore the facts and to bully the most vulnerable. They will have to explain to their students that 98% of the scientists are correct about climate change and the impact humans have on the environment even though high government officials are denying it. It makes it harder for teachers to teach their students that facts are important and that opinions should be based on a deep understanding of the facts. It will be harder for them to teach their students to confront the bully and stand up for the bullied. Teachers are not going to “just get over it.”

It’s hard to “get over it” if you are gay, lesbian, Latino/a, black, a person with disabilities, Muslim, an immigrant, a refugee. It’s hard to “get over it” for a woman who has been made to feel shame because she had a miscarriage, who has been told she is less important or intelligent because of her gender, or who has been told that it is her fault when she is physically or sexually assaulted.

So don’t tell me to “just get over it.” I will not “get over it.” I will spend the next four years speaking out against lies, corporate abuse, bullying, homophobia, racism, misogyny, abuse of women, and the loss of freedoms guaranteed by our first amendment. I will spend the next four years speaking out for the underserved, undervalued and oppressed.

I will not “just get over it.” I will resist. Yes, I will resist.