I am purposely writing before there is any known winner in the US Elections. Yesterday on a social media platform I posted a pretty picture of a tree with an American flag waving in front of it. A beautiful day, words of comfort and peace. I later saw a friend post a meme that such sentiments were offensive. Another posted a meme that implied that real love can only mean that you see eye-to-eye, not wanting the other to be hurt. I believe the latter condition of that last sentence, but not the former. Love of course has many meanings, with the most unconditional being from the Greek word agape’. Love, no matter.
I realize that both partisan sides feel as though they will be hurt if their choice is not elected. Both. So if being positive and resilient means you are offensive, and that it is somehow wrong to be that way, then it leaves only two options, both of which are negative and divisive. Some think that by not being afraid, the positive, resilient stance means that one is impassive or ineffective as well as uncaring. But that is not true nor is it logical. Faith in humanity or faith in God, and trusting that all will improve eventually, does not mean that one stops fighting in their own way for human rights (voting, marching, letter-writing, phone-calling, preaching, praying, teaching, being a role model, etc.). Neither does it mean that one does not care about or for the downtrodden. So why would anyone think that?
I can only surmise that it is because they are irritated by a positivity which seems to indicate a lack of caring for rights they hold dear. They misconstrue it for not believing as deeply as they do. They are frustrated that their beliefs–honorable ones–are not valued. But none of those ways of reasoning are correct.
Some have found away to muster the desire to carry-on positively– or at least to not fall apart and succumb to depression, angry outbursts, hopelessness or hatred. Those are the responses most likely to incapacitate. I have written about inspiring folk in horrible circumstances who managed to make a difference, small as it was, late as it was in coming to light: the “Dorotheas” suggested by George Eliott, the Victor Frankls. the Corrie ten Booms, the Mother Teresas. These are the examples I would like to, feebly as I might, follow. This type of resilience will get humanity through, as it has sustained it for millennia.
Suzy Cornflakes 
I’m just shaking my head that there are people that believe that if you don’t believe exactly the same as they, then you are offensive. I won’t say how low my opinion is of people that cannot tolerate dissent.
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In order to grow we need to be able to tolerate dissent, support our opinion, and remain peaceable. I feel compassion because for many people, this intolerance has so much to do with where they are coming from. If one was raised in fear or confusion of who they are, or they were not supported at a critical time, or believe strongly that they will have to continue to fight marginalization or basic human rights, then they feel that stakes are very high with this election. That is understandable. I think the argument of the meme is too simplistic. Of course you would never want a loved one to suffer. There is an argument to be made on either side for suffering, and so the extent of it and reality of it (personally affecting them or a large number of people), factors into the reasoning in a decision in which sadly, one determines a lesser “evil” over another. In the end, love must reign. As humans, this will be imperfect and yet must be our highest aim.
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