Keeping Serenity in Times of Anger
When politics shake our world: The divisive rifts tearing apart families and friendships in an era of heightened polarization
When Trump won the American elections in 2016, the Western world was left speechless. Hillary’s election seemed like a given, with headlines almost ready to proclaim “history made again: the first female president elected.”
No one seemed to foresee that while the first line of the headline would remain, the second would dictate a different narrative. Eight years have passed since then, but the American earthquake's repercussions are still echoing worldwide.
On that strange election night, simultaneously on the other side of the ocean, incredulous Portuguese promptly began pointing fingers at the Americans for their perceived foolishness.
The anti-American sentiment that had persisted during George Bush’s tenure resurfaced. Old Green Day songs were sung again, with lines like “Do you wanna be an American idiot?” echoing with laughter.
Meanwhile, we comfortably showcased a progressive leftist coalition to the rest of Europe in Portugal. We were heading in the opposite direction. While some embraced veganism and genuine environmental concerns translated into progressive policies, we witnessed regression in the supposed “best country in the world.”
The things that reached us from America were brutal. For the younger generation with knowledge of English, videos from Saturday Night Live or numerous talk shows (hosted by the likes of Jimmies and Stephen Colbert) showed the immense animosity that had engulfed American society.
It was no longer just a political divide but also a social and, above all, a familial one. Since then, I know of several families torn apart, relationships strained, siblings drifting apart, and even childhood friends no longer speaking.
The topic was always the same: an inability to engage in dialogue with Trump voters or a failure to engage with Hillary supporters.
With Trump, populism entered the political arena with repetitive speeches and non-arguments. Even terms like ‘fake news’ became part of everyday language.
The forgotten Americans, neglected by intellectual politicians, voted for someone who resonated with them and spoke their language like a fellow café patron.
Science and intellect were disregarded, and a madman was put on a pedestal. How many madmen has history not witnessed as leaders? It’s an endless vicious circle.
Culturally, America took a strange turn. Theories like ‘post-blackness’ that suggested racism was a thing of the past, given the election of a Black president, proved to be false. From the shadows, never entirely erased, America returned to its worst. Klan crosses were aflame again, David Duke emerged to support his great friend, and neo-Nazi marches took over the supposed land of freedom.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the ocean, any visions of what America could truly be were shattered.
Televisions, increasingly relics of the past, concealed the truth that social media began to reveal: a country entrenched in profound social injustices. A place where unchecked capitalism had brainwashed the majority of citizens, leaving them oblivious to the rest of the world. A country incredibly ignorant of basic geography, which was turned into entertainment and, consequently, a money-making machine.
Expectations from America shifted from hope for any utopian society to expecting anything but that. And here, any notion of stepping foot on that land crumbled as constant massacres and madmen with guns shot children, young people, and any unfortunate innocent who happened to cross paths with a killer at the wrong time and place.
All of this seemed like the work of crazy people, devoid of reason, thought, and, above all, seriousness. Those Americans had turned politics — something extremely serious — into an eternal reality show, a commodity they so dearly loved.
In 2016, it would not have occurred to us that four years later, in 2019, everything we considered foolish would materialize in a Portuguese political party.
We thought we would never argue with anyone over political differences and that, whether a bit more to the left or the right, everyone had the ambition to create a better society.
But, as the people say, not everything that glitters is gold; not everything that speaks loudest has the voice of reason. It is becoming increasingly clear that it is the opposite.
And now, it is our turn to hide in shame in Portugal. Now, we are the fools. Now, we are the ones who, perhaps neglected by some intellectual arrogance, have voted for an extreme right-wing party that promises unrealistic things. We know very well that these are unrealistic and populist proposals. But this happens when reason is set aside, and emotions and anger take center stage.
And now, here comes the collapse. I am now torn, knowing that some family members voted for this.
I believe they are good people, perhaps only naive. So I want to believe. But, at the same time, I cannot hide the growing resentment within me—indignation for their foolishness and ignorance that harms an entire society.
I told those who are very dear and close to me that I will not speak to fascists. They asked, “Not even to your cousin?” Strangely, they admitted what I never wanted to believe.
How will I deal with the apathy, ignorance, and malice of people who will sit beside me at family gatherings?
How can I deal with people who are parents but feel zero empathy for those Palestinian kids murdered by Israel?
What kind of humanity and people are these from my own blood? Will I be forced to smile, remain silent, and say nothing while I watch the world implode?
The big question looms: how can I love and respect people who do not love, who do not respect, and who hide behind supposed warm hugs, an ideology so rotten and dangerous?
Moreover, how can dialogue be established when there is no possibility of arguing logically?
In their infinite wisdom, people say you catch more flies with honey than vinegar. It could be my mission to bring them back to reason.
But how?
We are all at a crossroads for the first time. Some will go one way, others another.
Certain things are too drastic to just be forgotten.
And, sometimes, blood is not enough.
Hello, I’m Araci, a female writer from Portugal. Thank you so much for reading me.
Your support is fundamental so I can continue writing. As such, If you have enjoyed this article, maybe you would like to buy me a “coffee” here:
Dear Araci,
French saying: the heart has reasons that reason does not know. Emotions are ruling us, not reason,
so how ever reasonable your argumentation may be, it will be powerless against the emotions of uncertainty, abandonment and frustration, for wich so many people seek refuse in the strangest places, like with a fascist party like Chega.
People like to point to the ignorance and political immaturity of the Portuguese people, but I disagree.
What to think then of what happened in Sweden and Finland, where the same thing happened, and even sooner than here in Portugal ?
As I pointed out in an earlier comment to one of your very good articles, this is a true sign of a collapsing civilisation, we live -alas- in interesting times.
The collapse started, and it will get worse.
I am with you, and I feel your pain and anger, but our numbers are dwelling, and the riders of the apocalyps are out, there is no stopping them.
All you write is heartbreakingly accurate. I will never forget election night in 2016 and the national nightmare that began, spreading poison in a wide radius and beyond the US borders. I worry for this beautiful country.