The Event and the Reaction

by Dwayne Phillips

Tomorrow is our national election day. As with almost everything, it is not the event, it is the reaction.

A little research shows that I have written on this topic several times. I do so again as I think it is important.

Tomorrow is our national election day in America. Millions of folks have already voted with the US Constitution sort of noting that those votes are questionable, but that is yet another topic for yet another day.

Perhaps by Wednesday morning we will know the result of the election of President and many other offices for representatives of the people. I hope so. I hope we have peace.

I am certain that we will have angst. I am certain that about 40% of America will feel awful. Perhaps about 40% of America will be ecstatic with the results.

Note to those who feel awful: record your feelings. Remember your feelings. Remember what increases your angst and what relieves it. The day after every major election will produce 40% of your neighbors who feel just as you feel. Experience has taught you how to increase and decrease the suffering of 40% of your neighbors. Use that experience for the good.

Feel awful? Feel angry? Feel distrust of some of your neighbors? Fine. It is fine to feel what you feel. Punch your neighbor because they are gloating? Not fine. We can all feel what we feel, think what we think, and say what we wish. But we don’t have the right to do whatever we feel like and punch anyone who disagrees with us. And I caution the saying part as sometimes we only make matters worse.

The event is important. How we react is more important. Nothing guarantees we “win” on election day. We guarantee that we learn from the experience.

The event is important. How we react is more important.