With just one week until a certain election day, it’s safe to say that the United States has the rapt attention of the world. Sitting here in Canada, nervously waiting for November 5 to roll around, it’s hard not to let your mind wander.
As America’s upstairs neighbours, we are used to keeping up with their political happenings – we remove ourselves from the equation (much as we can) and watch as their history books are written in real-time from a safe distance. But we don’t think we're alone in thinking that this feels different.
On one hand, there is a contagious, cautious optimism. Kamala Harris’ campaign has populated our collective feeds with a certain positivity that has been noticeably missing from recent political discourse. It’s refreshing. It’s exciting. It’s hopeful. But as much as we may want to lean into that joy, to laugh at that SNL cold open, and cheer on each perfectly poised response – there’s a big, giant, terrifying elephant in the room.
Donald Trump, and the unabashed hatred he has come to represent, has a very real chance of winning.
The Trump-ification of politics is nothing new, in fact, it’s been thrown in our faces, ad nauseum, for the past nine years. Yes, you read that right – nine! Trump first announced his pre-presidential candidacy way back in 2015. And here we are, again, reluctantly giving airtime to his dangerous, incoherent ramblings and playground attack tactics. So much has changed. So little has changed. It’s a terrible mess.
Trumpian rhetoric transcends politics. The four years he spent in office brought with it a lack of civility and decorum that’s been hard to shake. Policy is no longer the name of the game – instead, political figures are deified for hurling kindergarten insults at their opponents, in search of that perfect, viral soundbite. There is a clear infantilization of the electorate and issues facing the people could not be less of a priority.
But why do Canadians care (we ask incredulously)? Well, there’s an implicit understanding that what happens down South, is often a precursor for what’s to come here. Another four years of Trump would certainly inspire our own political landscape to move in directions counter to my own values, at least.
It’s on full display with the vitriolic way that national discussions surrounding immigration, diversity, and inclusion have devolved as of late – with misinformation steering the ship.
And all of this exists in an increasingly online, digital age – where algorithms and targeted advertising are the nail in the coffin of radicalization. Rhetoric knows no borders and the online echo chamber makes it easier than ever to be fed a steady diet of division, fear, and hate. In other words, those who need to have these conversations, so often do not.
That’s one of the millions of reasons we’re so passionate about the work we do. Working in the DEI space, we have sometimes been met with resistance and uncomfortable conversations. But we’re not afraid of opposing opinions. We listen readily and respond accordingly. At the end of the day, we see what a difference that makes – to be civil while standing strong in our truth. We see this as our greatest asset in combatting homegrown hate.
Our investment in the results of this election is only natural.
As enamoured as we are with the prospect of a Harris presidency – we that fear none of us will be resting easy until those results are in. In the meantime, all we can do is watch with bated breath and hope that Americans vote for progress, civility, open-mindedness, and hope. The world is watching.
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