Whew, I’m so glad the election is over! I really was feeling anxious and overwhelmed. As a single woman of mixed race I could not help feeling that my personal values were being attacked. There also were many candidates claiming to be upright, moral, upstanding citizens making disturbing comments about women, gay people and sexuality. It seemed like many of the candidates set themselves up to judge almost everyone as inferior. I have been dealing with this attitude my entire life but I had never heard it put so blatantly.
The relief I felt when the elections were over was just like getting over a long illness. Is it possible to get sick from an election?
Grandma Yaga's reply:
Mark my words, my dearie,
Yes, my dear, prolonged stress can make you ill, and for many people the election was very stressful. Many people felt their values were under attack, and voted accordingly.
As for the hostile comments against women and gays, I am reminded of Frollo, the government minister in Disney’s Hunchback of Notre Dame. He portrays the character of a public official who, while believing himself to be good and proclaiming self-righteousness at every turn, does wrong and behaves cruelly. He orders the gypsy village burned out of spite and mistreats Quasimodo, the deformed orphan under his care. The heart of Frollo’s character is hypocrisy—hatred and fear of women, while also lusting after them (beautifully shown in the “Hell Fire” song sung by Frollo).
Once you understand that there are Frollos in this world, you should not take their existence to mean anything to you personally. Do not take their comments to heart. Vote against them, work for their challengers, make donations and volunteer. But when the elections are over you will have ample time for recovery, and Grandma Yaga wishes you a glorious path for yourself.