I had originally started putting a show together about some of the other races decided on Election Night 2016. I was going to note how Republicans didn’t just hold onto majorities in Congress, but increased their holdings of governorships and state legislatures, and maybe talk about some of the ballot measures that were voted on.
But as the week continued, I was less and less concerned about that, and more concerned about the reactions to the election that I kept hearing on other podcasts and social media. So I decided to chuck my original idea, and just touch on those.  And #SafetyPin.
Mentioned links:
2016 Presidential Election Results
“Only Thing We Have to Fear Is Fear Itself”: FDR’s First Inaugural Address

Show transcript
I had originally started writing a script about some of the other races decided on Election Night 2016. I was going to note how Republicans didn’t just hold onto majorities in Congress, but increased their holdings of governorships and state legislatures, and maybe talk about some of the ballot measures that were voted on. If you want to see all that, there’s a link in the show notes with all those results.
But as the week continued, I was less and less concerned about that, and more concerned about the reactions to the election that I kept hearing on other podcasts and social media. So I decided to chuck my original idea, and just touch on those.
I want to start with the idea that Trump’s election has caused racists, misogynist, xenophobes, and all manner of “deplorables” to come out of the closet. I say “come out of the closet” because he did not create them; they have been there all along. It was pointed out to me that the KKK was celebrating Trump’s victory, as though the Klan is some potent political powerhouse. Politically, they are irrelevant. Yes, they still exist, and yes, they have ways of causing fear, but are they really as potent as they were a couple generations ago? It may be easy for me to say since they wouldn’t be harassing me, but I think the answer to that is a clear No. Let them play pretend that they are on the rise, but my prediction is that they will be sorely disappointed.
One social media phenomenon that grew out of this election is #SafetyPin. The intent is that if you wear a safety pin on your shirt label, or your social media picture, that you are declaring yourself a safe place for someone who is fearful of what might happen in a Trump presidency, or if they’re being bullied, and to show solidarity with them. Actually, it goes back to Britain and the #Brexit vote, but the idea is the same. Two things about this. First, it’s a nice idea, as far as it goes. For many, “activism” consists of an overlay on their profile picture of a safety pin, or the French flag, but that’s often where it ends. I’m not saying it’s merely a gesture, but people on both sides of the aisle have been doing that without the need to call attention to it. And second, I have a question for the safety pinners. Where were you when people were getting their businesses shut down and their livelihoods destroyed because they wouldn’t violate beliefs that their religion has held for over 2,000 years? Where were you when those people were being bullied? Please show me, somehow, that this is not just all about politics.
I have a little advice for both sides going forward.
Republicans and conservatives; don’t get cocky. There will likely be enough issues on which we disagree with Trump that we should concentrate on that. We must hold our own accountable first. My other concern is that, where we do agree with him and say as much, we’ll be brushed off as racists, misogynists and xenophobes (all the boxes will be checked off) just as disagreement with Obama was typically brushed off, for the same reasons.