Post Election Trauma

After one of the most chaotic presidential campaigns in American history, the smoke is clearing but the fires are still burning. Across the nation, people continue to riot and protest out of a feeling of political impotency (well-deserved for the many who didn’t even vote). Words like “racist” and “Nazi” are being thrown around irresponsibly by people on the left. VP-elect Mike Pence was lectured by the cast of Hamilton. A model mocked the First Lady-elect. On the other side of the aisle, the alt-right reared its ugly head when the National Policy Institute had its annual conference a few weeks ago. The members made Nazi-salutes after an unashamedly racist speech. Their president, Richard B. Spencer, and his ilk certainly deserve to be called racists.

We do not need this garbage. The time for name-calling and mudslinging has come to an end. It is time to treat one another with the dignity that we deserve as children of God. The political vitriol of this election has caused us to forget to see the face of Christ in everyone we meet. Now that the votes have been cast, we need to remember that we are Americans, before members of our respective political parties, and we are Catholics before all else.

This election particularly divided Catholics. Neither of the candidates would qualify for sainthood. Donald Trump has a history of disgusting behavior towards women including his scandalous hot-mic moment from 2005. Certain elements of his immigration platform enliven people like Spencer.

Hillary Clinton, on the other hand, is a cheerleader for Planned Parenthood. She believes that babies only gain constitutional rights once they are outside the womb, a barbaric and outdated position. Though her sincerity is doubtful, she endorses a radical progressive agenda that seeks to destroy marriage and the traditional family. The entire Clinton family has a long history of corruption and scandal. It was understandably very difficult for Catholics to get behind either candidate.

None of that matters now. Like it or not, Trump won. As Christians, we need to start (although we never should have stopped) treating one another like human beings again. There has been too much hatred in our country for the last year and a half. Dehumanizing language has been used too carelessly. It is a lot easier to hate people if you label them “Nazis”, “racists”, or “progressive scum”. Social media creates a distance between us that makes it even easier to spew garbage at each other.

Remember the words of Saint Paul, “Be angry: and sin not. Let not the sun go down upon your anger…. Let all bitterness and anger and blasphemy be put away from you, with all malice. And be ye kind one to another: merciful, forgiving one another, even as God hath forgiven you in Christ” (Ephesians 4:26, 31-32).

It’s ok to be passionate about a political cause. In the face of such grave moral evils as abortion, it is even alright to be moved to action by righteous anger. But do not let that anger lead you to sin! The Year of Mercy may be over, but that does not mean we can neglect being merciful. Now that the election is over, we need to ask ourselves, are we treated each other with the dignity we deserve as brothers and sisters in Christ? Jesus did not say the greatest commandment is to argue your political position until everyone agrees with you and everyone who doesn’t is a bigot. He said, “A new commandment I give unto you: That you love one another, as I have loved you” (John 13:34).

And that’s what’s important. Not trends on twitter, not political movements, not even who lives in the White House. What is important is that we love.