Notes on a failing empire
I'll get a lot of flack for this: Voting in the two-party system for the next president is not the way towards meaningful change.
I spent these last few weeks dissociating from the world.
While prioritizing my health and well-being, I’ve disengaged from social media, turned off screens, and spent more time in and out of my care team’s offices. As we arrive at the general election, I struggle with the line between healthy and maladaptive avoidance. (I’m owning up to it here at least.) My panic started when a friend came over and made a blasé comment about how she thought Trump would win again. I realised I hadn’t paid attention to the 24/7 news cycle, including election coverage. I’m too overwhelmed with the media’s nonchalant coverage of genocide and the reality that both presidential candidates will continue funding the aforementioned polycrisis.
It all feels like too much.
So, I retreat into myself to stop the vicious cycle.
The end of an empire doesn’t happen overnight1.
It stretches out over time, sometimes spanning decades. Revolution takes planning and the shared values of liberation. Change must be both incremental and radical. Unfortunately, in the Age of Imperialism and White Supremacy, I’m unsure if our citizens are well-equipped for the task. We are hyper-focused on our individualism and America First values2 that we neglect to acknowledge our nation’s complicity in genocide because of our nation’s greed and hunger for resources, money and power.
America’s two-party system failure is not a surprise. Voting for the lesser evil means that the Left gets pushed further to the Right. It’s gotten to the point where I am ashamed to identify with the Democratic Party, to be called liberal or leftist, and have become increasingly more radicalized.
Americans, I’m not sure why we’re still defending this empire.
We’re overdue for another revolution, and the surprising thing to Americans is that they’re afraid of violence that leads to crime. However, the act of revolution requires violence because colonization and Imperialism are major acts of violence. Remember that the United States of America as we know it, is built on violence. Both major party candidates endorse violence by continuing to perpetuate and spend money on structures like the military and police.
Is this the liberation that we’ve been dreaming of? No.
I’m unsure that dream will come to fruition with the options we have, even with the votes. However, history proves that change is possible: It begins within our neighbourhoods and communities through direct action and movements.
We forget that ending slavery started with the people: Turner’s Rebellion.
One of my oldest friends, Eddie, reminded me of how we’re taught about Nat Turner’s uprising in schools. It’s been decades since I learned about American Civil War history, but as I recall: Turner’s Rebellion is one of the key events that contributed to the war. In my friend’s stories, he reminded me of how political ideology rests in a tenuous spectrum.3
Then, Eddie posed a poignant question, considering the great polarization of the two-party American system: How would we classify Turner’s revolt today? Would it be considered an act of terrorism, like Conservatives claim anti-fascists are doing? What about the far-right fascists who form militias and turn up to protests armed, pointing their guns at innocent people?
I don’t know how this election will turn out.
If polls are to be trusted, Trump gets another four years in power.
Did I vote? Yes.
But I am unsure if my body can survive another Trump presidency or if it could survive one under Harris. I think both options are shitty and go against my shared values for liberation. I did, however, vote because I want to make sure my local representatives and constitution are listening to their constituents. And if they’re not? Direct action, advocacy and organizing with our communities help us gain freedom.
To be honest: I’d like to see America (as we know it) crumble and fall.
If my body is marginalized and Othered, I’m prepared to resist and fight in the best ways I know how. But that takes rest first, and then we’ll get to the dismantling of an empire.
Thank you for making your way to end of this entry. If you’re overwhelmed by election anxiety and grief— consider pausing to take care of yourself and following Stephanie Foo’s tips for election day care.
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Forgive me for using Lin Manuel-Miranda’s Hamilton to make a point but I digress…
Despite being a global power? Lol, ok.
Like the Horseshoe Theory, my spouse (T) and I believe that the far-right and left have more in common than centrists and moderates.
You’re not alone! An overhaul is long overdue.