WWJD: What Would Judy Do?
My whole life, my guiding motto has been WWJD: What Would Judy Do? My mom, Judy Bello, is my hero and inspiration. She shared with me her response to the election results, and I want to share it with all of you:
“The 2016 election campaign was like no other — thank goodness. The Republican Party’s presidential candidate, Donald Trump, repeatedly made comments that were racist, misogynistic, cruel, callous, lewd, divisive, and undisciplined. He clearly suffers from ignorance about public service, having never performed any.
“Astonishingly, enough Americans voted for him nonetheless to squeak out a victory through electoral votes, even though his opponent, the seasoned public servant Hillary Clinton, won the popular vote. Yes, Hillary Clinton was certainly an unpopular and flawed candidate, but is Donald Trump remotely qualified to serve as commander-in-chief and our number-one ambassador of goodwill to our allies and the world? Please.
“Donald Trump — now President-Elect Donald Trump — promised to ‘make America great again.’ A self-absorbed businessman who managed to lose nearly a billion dollars in a single year, he doesn’t have the first clue how to achieve that goal; that’s one reason his campaign lacked any policy content beyond bumper-sticker prescriptions (e.g., build a wall along the southern border) or banana-republic slogans (e.g., “lock her up!”). On the other hand, he outperformed any politician in living memory in debasing and sullying American politics. The whole country should have awoken on the morning after and felt sorely in need of a cleansing shower, repentance on our knees, and at least a twelve-step rehabilitation program.
“So, like the plurality of Americans who voted for Hillary (not even counting the three or so percent who voted for Gary Johnson, this election’s third-party spoiler), I woke up the morning after the election feeling mugged and besmirched by the filth and negativity. I succumbed to depression — I mean, a really first-class case of anxiety followed by the blues.
“But the best response to sorrow about America’s shameful election campaign and outcome is to act constructively. My first self-assigned task was metaphorical: I chose to weed my garden and lawn. With every dandelion I pulled out by the roots, I named to myself the most unsavory characters in the election; if only they had been so easily uprooted and relegated to the dump.
“Second, I applied to serve as a Lincoln Memorial Volunteer for the National Park Service. President Lincoln exemplifies the best of American politics in a time far more turbulent and trying back then than now. I pray for President-Elect Trump’s conversion to decency and ethical values. Despite all his campaign trash talking and tweeting, it is at least possible that he could try to emulate Lincoln’s prescription of bearing ‘malice toward none, and charity for all.’ Don’t hold your breath for that effort, but let’s do pray for it.
“Third, I wrote a personal letter to the McLean Islamic Center to express my appreciation for their contributions to our community. I stressed that Mr. Trump’s hostile comments about Muslims do not represent the views of most Americans. In fact, all of us Americans are immigrants or descendants of immigrants to this country. Indeed, many emigrated from elsewhere to America precisely to obtain and enjoy freedom of religion as well as other freedoms enshrined in our Bill of Rights.
“Fourth, I renewed my membership and donated to the American Civil Liberties Union. Now there’s an important organization that may need to step up even its already intense efforts in the next administration, given candidate Trump’s bullying of the media as well as individuals.
“Fifth, at my nephew Dylan’s and his wife Kirstin’s invitation, I plan to help them in preparing and serving breakfast tomorrow, Veterans’ Day, at their church in downtown Washington DC. (Their church serves needy veterans as well as others.) I rejoice that Dylan and Kirstin are taking their own steps to combat political negativity through constructive and compassionate help for others, and appreciate that they are sharing this opportunity with me.
“Sixth, I emailed my former legal colleague George Grandison, who does pro bono legal work for immigrants. I offered to assist him or, with the help of a tutorial from him, share his workload. I hope I’m wrong, but I foresee a Trump Administration radically stepping up efforts to deport immigrants in the coming four years. (Candidate Trump threatened to deport eleven million illegal immigrants, but even at the height of my Trump anxiety, I don’t think that deplorable goal is even possible, much less feasible.)
“It’s only a start, and a small start at that. But hey, it’s a beginning, and in initiating action I can practice the resilience I need to recover from my husband’s death as well as from an embarrassing, demoralizing, downright shameful political election.”
Hopefully my mom’s actions can help inspire your own! As HRC put it best: “I still believe, as deeply as I ever have, that if we stand together and work together, with respect for our differences, strength in our convictions, and love for this nation -– our best days are still ahead of us. You know I believe we are stronger together and will go forward together.”
