A Way Forward Over the Next Four Years

By Dustin Rowles | Miscellaneous | November 9, 2016 |

Australian comedian Jim Jefferies said something during a stand-up bit in Nashville over the summer that has stuck with me as much as anything for the last few months, even while acknowledging that sometimes, I didn’t abide by his words. But they continue to echo.

I think this passage represents the absolute best way forward for many of us shell-shocked this morning.

“Hate doesn’t beat hate. It’s never fucking beat hate. It just makes more hate … the only thing that can beat hate is love. Now, love doesn’t always beat hate, but it does do something. Think about your own personal life. Think about a person who hates you and you hate them. From now on, show that person nothing but love. Now, I’m not saying for a second that the person will start loving you. They’ll probably still fucking hate you. But one thing will happen. Eventually, everyone will see them as the asshole.”

Don’t do it today. Hate as much as you fucking need to hate — seethe — because you need to get that out. But going ahead, we can be the Whos of Whoville. Donald Trump stole our Christmas presents, but he’s not going to change our feelings. Black Lives matter more than ever. What restroom we’re allowed to use matters more than ever. A fair minimum still matters. Health care is still crucial. I’m Still with Her, even if she’s not going to be our President. What she represents to us still exists. I Am With Her Herness.

Every Who down in Whoville, the tall and the small, was singing, without *any* Hillary at all! Trump hadn’t stopped progress and compassion from coming, it *came*! Somehow or other … it came just the same.