After the Election

It's been hard to deal with the hostility that has permeated out political discourse for the last year and a half. I hoped that the election would mitigate it, but the world woke up to the unexpected the next day. Since then, our country has been in the grip of something dark, made up of fear of the unknown and a lack of tolerance on both sides of the political spectrum. I refuse to believe that half our our country is made up of xenophobic bigots, but there is a very present threat of hate and intolerance coming from those who will lead us.

Part of me wants to give up, to tune it out, but I can't. It's a teachable moment. 

I tell my students that my classroom is a place where their ideas will be respected and valued but that right ends where other's right to feel safe begins. I tell them we can disagree while still seeing the humanity in each other and that what we make must advocate our point of view, not attack others. 

Then I challenge them to make art that advocates for an issue they believe in. 

And they do it. They think through their position and create powerful images. They treat one another with respect, even though they have differences. They listen instead of yell. They give me hope for the future.