Stories Collected While Living in France
Luca, a friend of our family, who is French/American and studying in California this year, wrote:
"If you're angry, sad, or scared, you have every right to feel that way, but now isn't the time to run away. Problems don't fix themselves. You stand up and fight for what you believe in."
The next four years may be about disenfranchising everyone who disagrees.
Welcome to Russia.
I’m scared..terrified..in shock..I feel like a bad, bad dream is real now..I followed the election news daily (every hate filled comment from his mouth) since summer & I can’t believe what’s happening..what will happen? My family and friends..we are all on separate sides..i have nothing in common with them..
I’m moving to Ireland. I’ve been fighting this battle for more than 30 years. I’ll be 70 next year. It’s someone else’s turn.
Libbie
I feel sick.
So very afraid of what is to come.
I do agree, but in the meantime “terrified and astonished”.
I fear we will be plunged back into the dark ages, I’m going to move to France. Luca is a wise one…
Corey, if you head back to France tomorrow, we’ll understand.
I imagine inquiries from Americans re renting your Paris apartment, and the houses in Cassis and your village will be increasing vastly now.
The Azores (and mainland Portugal) are looking more appealing just now, too.
Thanks for sharing that. I’m searching for the silver lining.
Good to see you back Franca.
Seems we’re all dismayed at the outcome.
It is scary. I checked some Facebook pages of folks I’d had to mute because of horrible rants against one candidate (Clinton). Sure enough, they were not just jubilant that their candidate won and may solve their dire financial problems. No, they are sticking to their delusions that she is Satan; they want him to have her arrested and killed.
Today I grieved, tomorrow I get ready to fight. We’re not going backward. In the words of a beloved Minnesota senator, the late Paul Wellstone, We all do better when we all do better.
Welcome home, Corey.
Barb in Minnesota
In reading the above comments I see that I am not alone in my dismay about the election outcome and fears for the future. However knowing I am not alone gives me hope.Remember the President is never all of America. I listened to Secretary of State Clinton’s speech today and wholeheartedly agree that we can and should continue to stand up for what we believe in. Having said that I urge everyone to not use this as an excuse for violence. That would make us no better than those we fear. We need calm and clear thinking. We can do this my friends.
I’m embarrassed and ashamed. I feel guilty that I’m white. However, I thank Luca for reminding me of this. Also, “When they go low, we go high”. Someone asked me last night, “Quick, how will you go high tomorrow? 3 things. Now.”
I have never been so ashamed of this country. This man ran on a platform of hate AND WON. I don’t know who we are as a nation. Divided, yes–I sat at lunch today at work, and what’s usually a jovial crew was silent because we were divided. And, get ready, because “divided, we fall.” It’s a sorry state of affairs.
I feel so very sad for the land of my birth. Still in shock.
That having been said, Lucas is so right.Stand up for that in which you truly believe.
If you have become a French citizen, Corey, you will be called to vote in an agonizing election next year. I hope that the French electorate is not as driven by ignorance, fear and anger as 47.5% of the people who voted in this U.S. election showed themselves to be.
The editor of “The New Yorker” summarized the tragedy of this election in his early-Wednesday morning post at:
http://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/an-american-tragedy-donald-trump
P.S. With a Republican majority in both chambers of Congress, He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named as President, and his appointee creating the new majority on the Supreme Court, it is difficult to see how our system of checks and balances will be effective. It will be up to us to make ourselves heard and seen, even to a leader who doesn’t hear or see anything but adulation.
P.S.S. What makes the result of this election almost unbearable, besides the fact the Sec. Clinton lost even though she won the popular vote, is that 46.9% of eligible voters did not even cast a vote.
Leslie, I share your concerns. I wonder if the time has come for the US to switch from the Electoral College to the popular vote, since it appears that 2 of our last 5 elections were lost by candidates who won the popular vote.
Re your comment, have you seen this article?
“This Is Why France Is The Next Battleground For The Trumpian Revolution”:
https://www.buzzfeed.com/paulaveline/this-is-why-france-is-the-next-battleground-for-the-trumpian?utm_term=.skO2531O9#.uqkWPJElL
Oh a million thanks for this post, Corey. Luca is so right. I feel like I have been kicked hard in the stomach. I am devastated but I know I am not alone. There were as many votes against hate and ignorance. But I am still stunned over how many voted to destroy this country. Sec Clinton was so classy and inspiring in her concession speech. She was knocked down so unfairly countless times. If she could get back up, then so can I. I’m not going down. It’s my grand daughter and her generation that I fear for. It’s so unfair. How can this amazing country vote to go back to the dark ages? Thank you all for your posts.
And yes my friend Ann and I were talking yesterday about renting in the south of France! She even got online to explore. I do want to run away. But I want to fight back too.
I am a deputy registrar in New Hampshire and it became clear to me by mid-day on Tuesday that Donald Trump would likely win. So many white men, 30 and 40 something year olds, registering to vote for the first time. I knew they weren’t there to vote for Hillary. Luca is absolutely correct – we can’t hide from this. As Americans in a democratic society, this is unacceptable. But, it does reveal a dangerous divide in our country – on so many levels.
Let’s do everything we can to limit the damage by being the best examples of democracy for our children. Let’s be civil, intelligent, honest with those we disagree with so we can teach our kids what our country is really all about.
Now is the time to plant seeds, encourage growth and critical thinking, talk about this stuff civilly at the dinner table. Now is the time we need to go high and hold our government to the highest standard our country deserves.
STUNNED.
GOBSMACKED…………..
The white un-educated MAN can RELATE to HIM.He cannot even SPEAK!If they think he can get their jobs back they are IDIOTS!IT is all in AUTOMATION NOW……….
The protest have started here in OAKLAND and Berkeley…………..
I am speechless. I can understand the class of men voting for Trump as they did. You have to look no further than the words Trump used – garbage talk and hate. But for the life of me, I can not understand how any woman could vote for him. It makes no sense. And Pence is almost in the dark ages concerning women’s rights.
After this week of shock it’s time to listen & make positive changes.. the middle of America (rural blue collar) has been hurting..Ive always felt pain for those towns that have lost jobs & healthcare from the move to overseas and a tech world. Blame & hate & fear will never work to make things better..this is a wake up call for us all.
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