As we go into 2025, I can’t help but take some time to reflect on the year 2024. I know it’s cliche and it’s probably something everything is doing, but I’ve opened myself up a lot on here this year. I feel like it’s only fitting to share this here as well.
This year taught me a lot, about myself and also about people and the world around me. I had a lot of hope this year and I also lost a lot of hope. I had to take a hard look at myself and make a decision about whether or not to remain silent or to speak out like I never had before. Staying silent is safe, and that’s where I stayed for most of my life. This year, it felt like I couldn’t stay in that safe silence anymore. So, I didn’t. I knew there was going to be backlash and that people were going to be angry and disappointed, but I underestimated exactly how much.
People I looked up to my whole life and people I thought were reasonable, voted for a convicted rapist and felon. They voted for a horrible man in the name of a God I was raised to believe was just and always right. I was so angry. I still am, if I’m being honest. I’m so angry that my view of the world was officially shattered on election night. I’m angry that people I thought I knew could be so hateful in the name of God. I’m simply angry.
That’s something I didn’t really want to take into 2025 with me, but I’m also giving myself the space I really need to fully feel this anger. This sadness. This hopelessness that comes in waves. The people who voted for that man (it may be petty, but I don’t want to write his name) will call those of us on the other side sore losers or dramatic or delusional or whatever, but something I learned this year is that we are beyond politics. We are beyond Democrat and Republican. Neither party is going to save us, and it became clear to me this year that we are also not going to save ourselves.
“You’re going to cut people off because of politics? Because of a disagreement?” No.
But I will cut people off for lacking a human decency that I thought everyone had, deep down. I will cut people off for being willfully ignorant and uninformed and then using God as a reason they can make bad decisions and get away with it.
That anger I was talking about earlier came up a little just then… but I feel every part of it. In some ways, I’m grateful for this year and these feelings. It’s taught me a lot about what is important and what isn’t, what I can live without and what I can’t.
I’m scared for 2025 in a lot of ways. I’m scared to see what comes with this next presidential term. I’m scared for women and other minority groups who are already under attack every day without the Oligarchs who are coming into power in a few weeks even lifting a finger.
I’ve spoken with people in the past few weeks about the risks moving forward, especially being a woman and an educator. Specifically being one who physically cannot shut up about all of this. But I’m not special and I’m not unique. I’m just one person. Historically, fascist regimes come after the educators and the minorities first, and if that’s where we’re headed then they’re going to get me anyway. So, I may as well go out being annoying.
It’s hard to lose faith in the world and the people around you. I know I’m not alone in that feeling. It’s hard to lose people in any way, including finding out they weren’t who you thought they were. But my New Year’s resolution is to use my voice and the power I do have to fight injustice and intolerance, and ultimately just flat-out misinformation that has MAGA in a chokehold. If we’re going to build hope out of this darkness, that’s all we can do.
I leave you with a quote from Audre Lorde, who said it a whole lot better than I ever could myself. I wish you so much love and happiness in 2025.
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