I still believe in the promise of America
Last night's presidential election didn't go the way I'd hoped. It's disappointing to see ~70 million people vote for someone who openly promotes negativity and hate. The future is uncertain and scary, and I understand the anger and anxiety.
But I woke up this morning with a resolve knowing we'll move forward and survive another Trump presidency, however ugly it may be. Four years is not a long time in the grand scheme of a nation's history. And I still love this country and all the opportunities it gives to people like my mom, who came here from the rural Philippines countryside at 28 years old. The life waiting for her in the Philippines was one of poverty, danger, and misery. But in America, she worked great industry jobs, sent her first-generation daughter to college and graduate school, and was even able to retire early. The life she built in America wasn't possible in the Philippines, plain and simple.
And that's not to say America is perfect. Far from it!! But I'm critical of our policies, cultures, histories, and political leaders BECAUSE I love it here and I want our society to be better. We have a long way to go and it feels like last night we took a big step back, but I'm not going to play the hate game. I'm choosing to be hopeful and loving because I believe that's what we need right now.
We got this.