This 2024 Election Isn’t In Alignment, but I’m Still Going to Vote for Harris
I decided to dive deep into political social media and was inundated by a lot of intensity. Rightfully so. We’re two weeks away from the election and the changes many people have been begging the Biden administration to do have not happened, and Harris supporting the current foreign policy shows how complicit she is in the lack of action toward genocide. But it looks like on this issue, Trump wouldn’t do much better. And now there’s this tension between people who don’t want Trump elected and people who don’t want to vote since that means they’re supporting genocide if they do vote.
Shaming Into Action isn’t Helpful
I am an AuDHDer who was raised in a Christian household. I latched onto the idea that guilt and shame were the ultimate motivators into action, which I used on myself for many years until I burned out and felt no sense of identity. As someone who immersed themself in (and worked to get themself out of) guilt and shame culture, I can see guilt and shame used as tactics from every side. “If you vote for X then you are a genocide supporter.” “If you vote for Y then you hate trans people.” “If you’re a single issue voter, then you’re ignorant and worthless.” Sure. These statements definitely spark the all-too-familiar inner tension of shame and guilt. But do we REALLY want to vote from a place of shame or guilt? I doubt it.
Each Candidate Option Causes Harm
We know there’s no such thing as a perfect candidate, and many of us are SO disappointed/disgusted/upset with the options before us. “I can’t in good conscience vote for anyone because that would mean I’m supporting [insert thing you definitely DON’T want to support].” Ok. So we’re here in America. Two main options that aren’t great. It’s hard to even determine which one causes the least harm at times. Perspectives and stories shift and change every day. HOWEVER, if we are to be able to do the work we want to do to improve how the country participates in world issues, we have to be alive and supported in our OWN country before we can do that work. I work with a lot of queer people who would like basic safety, and I KNOW our lives will not be as safe with one of the main options in office. I know a lot of women who would like bodily autonomy…and I know one of the candidates does not support that. I know a lot of people of color and immigrants who just want to LIVE, and there’s a candidate who has done harm to these populations through his actions in office. I’m saying this to build awareness. If you feel guilt or shame from those statements, take some deep breaths to soothe yourself, because I mean for this to be a place where I share where I’m at, not for you to question your worth based on your political choice.
We Have to Take Care of Us and Our Rights Before We Can Show Up for the World
We have to choose the safest option, which involves voting (and the safest option for me and the people I care about is Harris). This can feel internally terrible and selfish. We have built up so many narratives about how we have to show up constantly to help those in more terrible situations than us. We feel we have to honor the lives so brutally taken from this world by subjecting ourselves to traumatic images and videos of the genocide. What can you take in? What can you do to take care of yourself to build your capacity to show up for others? What is one actionable step you can take this election that will allow America to be a place for you to do the activism you want? Choosing not to vote at all may feel a little better internally since voting for Harris MUST mean we support genocide, right?
The tension and internal dissonance will be OVERWHELMING for so many of us. Voting for Harris doesn’t have to be a black-and-white determination that we’re supporting genocide. We don’t. AND which candidate isn’t trying to regress the equality we’ve been fighting for in America for centuries? We don’t have to vote to show support. We have to vote to choose domestic safety (and the safety of our more marginalized neighbors) so we can continue to fight other injustices inside and outside of our borders.
Other Helpful Links
ProtectPalestine.org - fast and easy ways for everyone to get involved
How Politics works in 7 Minutes by @melodystanfordmartin
Join Us in Virtual Guided Self-Care on 11.2.24
My wife and I are running a virtual retreat that’s pay-what-you-can starting at $11 the weekend before the election. If you’re struggling to regulate during these overwhelming times pre-election, this could be the option for you! If not, that’s totally okay, but please take care of yourself in whatever way feels in alignment to you.
