Love Harder

Last week, we had elections here in the Netherlands. I needed a few days to let my feelings about the outcome subside.

When Trump was elected, we lived in Los Angeles. I was shocked about the outcome, but I didn’t quite understand the shame that some of my friends felt; since they didn’t vote for him, it wasn’t their fault, was it?

Now I understand.

I’ve been feeling shame and rage, mostly directed at the man that is likely to be our president for the next four years; a fascist, Islamophobic, climate change denying bully. I’ve also found myself wondering about strangers on the street, who they voted for… and I don’t want that.

While I’m worried sick about what’s going to happen to our climate policies and to the refugees coming to our country, I have to remind myself that it’s a privilege to be able to worry about these things. Some people are so burdened with problems that they can’t see beyond how to get themselves through the week. If I’m being honest, I have no idea what that feels like. Lucky me.

Just yesterday, I learned about the Human Library. The idea is that instead of borrowing a book, you borrow a human for thirty minutes, who will tell you their story. From their website: “Every human book from our bookshelf, represent a group in our society that is often subjected to prejudice, stigmatization or discrimination because of their lifestyle, diagnosis, belief, disability, social status, ethnic origin etc.”

I think this is exactly what we need. We need to fight for climate justice and meanwhile, we need to love harder, even if it seems we have nothing in common.

With love,