Dear Ali and Lisa - we all woke up today with disappointing news. Apparently a plurality of Americans voted for a misogynist with authoritarian tendencies using racist language to run for president. I frankly believe this is less about the candidates and their policies and more about a protest vote against the establishment and the current political system - against a Democratic candidate that was ideally suited to stoke this resentment. Americans seem to want change - although they seem to define it by attempting to turn back the clock on actual change. But that desire is unlikely to be fulfilled, and these Trump voters are likely to be disappointed,. The President is less a dictator and more Wizard of Oz - hands on levers with limited real influence, especially domestically. You should be comforted by the fact that there has never been a better time to be a woman, and few places better to live than the US. You have more opportunities, and more freedom, than your mom had, then your grandmother had, and far more than you great grandmother had. No man - no boyfriend, no husband, no father, and sure as hell no politician - is going to tell you how to live, where to live, who to love, or what to do with your life. Few women in any time or any place would not trade places with you right now - this is your tremendous blessing. So appreciate that. But you also cannot take anything for granted. You need to remain vigilant, to never accept anything less than being treated with respect and equality, and to maintain those freedoms you have against reactionaries that would roll any of that back. I very much doubt that will happen - progress is a hard thing to reverse, demographics and time are in your favor, and you both are strong enough to overcome anyone foolish enough to try. Plus you know that I will always be there to protect you. Always Love, Dad
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