The other day I was hosting a FacebookLive conversation, with 50,000 viewers in attendance. I was about to wrap things up after 45 minutes when I noticed one question, at the bottom.

I got a great, pointed, open question from Zaida. You can see my response below.
“How will his Presidency effect you directly as a white man?”

So: there is an incredible amount of privilege in those who are white and male, and I acknowledge that.

That said, I care about my LGBTQ friends.

I care about my Muslim-American friends.

I care about democracy.

I care about Latino friends. And I have many here in Boulder, there are many here in Boulder—it’s a beautiful community here.

I care about women. I respect women, I was brought up by a single mother.

This is going to affect all of us.

I care about climate change. I care about climate change—the next seven generations. I care about solar and wind domestic jobs, versus continuing to tear apart our EPA. We have bad water in many cities that people can’t drink, even here in Boulder. The EPA is in charge of that— and Trump wants to kill it. The Republicans want to kill it.

I care about the Supreme Court, I care about women’s right to choose for the next 30 years.

And hopefully all of us can join in caring.

So that’s my answer to you, Zaida, and thank you for your question.

We’re all going to go through this together. We have to be in this together, for one another. If it affects one of us, it affects us. We are all part of the maine, part of the Donne’s island, part of the vision and path of this United yet divided country’s present and future.

More mindful discussion of the impending Trump Presidency.

I am anti-Trump, if Trump is about hate, blame, prejudice, destroying our environment, destroying healthcare access for all. If Trump decides to be America’s president, not just the president of Breitbart and fake news, we will support him. We support peace. And coming together. But only around empathy and compassion. Aggression begets aggression. Perhaps we can find common ground.

A photo posted by Waylon Lewis (@waylonlewis) on Nov 12, 2016 at 7:43am PST

I am anti-Trump, if Trump is about hate, blame, prejudice, destroying our environment, destroying healthcare access for all.
If Trump decides to be America’s president, not just the president of Breitbart and fake news, we will support him.
We support peace. And coming together. But only around empathy and compassion. Aggression begets aggression. Perhaps we can find common ground.

~

One of my childhood idols. This photo was on my wall as a boy, on 21st and Mapleton. It was on my wall at college. Today I biked past it in Boulder, Colorado. The look in his eyes…warriorship, and heartbreak. I know only a little how that feels, compared to him—but I feel it, we feel it, today. #SittingBull was an example of wisdom, courage and selflessness in the face of hate and power. 🙏 Let us all pray and work and play and most of all serve the greater good together, now more than ever. Let’s start at home. Be kinder. Let’s start in our neighborhood—connect, host a potluck. Let’s start in our town or city—our state. Let’s do what we can, now. 🐘 We’re heading into rough seas. Mr. Trump just appointed a hater of our environment to the head of the EPA transition team. It’s already starting. The wolves are in the henhouse. 🇺🇸 May Mr. Trump surprise us all and be kind, and just, and fair, and generous, and wise. Let him surround himself with good women and men, not alt-right haters with no respect for truth. Let us go beyond Instagram, and Facebook, and support independent journalism—fake news got us into this situation, siloizing ourselves on Facebook got us into this situation. Write on elephantjournal.com/submit—we’re here for you. 🇺🇸 Do what you can. I’ll do my part. Do more than you would have done had Hillary been elected. I’ll join you. Together, we’re stronger. And we need all the strength in the world—for the world—now. ~ #waylonlewis

A photo posted by Elephant Journal (@elephantjournal) on Nov 10, 2016 at 11:14am PST

One of my childhood idols. This photo was on my wall as a boy, on 21st and Mapleton. It was on my wall at college. Today I biked past it in Boulder, Colorado. The look in his eyes…warriorship, and heartbreak. I know only a little how that feels, compared to him—but I feel it, we feel it, today. #SittingBull was an example of wisdom, courage and selflessness in the face of hate and power. 🙏 Let us all pray and work and play and most of all serve the greater good together, now more than ever. Let’s start at home. Be kinder. Let’s start in our neighborhood—connect, host a potluck. Let’s start in our town or city—our state. Let’s do what we can, now. 🐘 We’re heading into rough seas. Mr. Trump just appointed a hater of our environment to the head of the EPA transition team. It’s already starting. The wolves are in the henhouse. 🇺🇸 May Mr. Trump surprise us all and be kind, and just, and fair, and generous, and wise. Let him surround himself with good women and men, not alt-right haters with no respect for truth. Let us go beyond Instagram, and Facebook, and support independent journalism—fake news got us into this situation, siloizing ourselves on Facebook got us into this situation. Write on elephantjournal.com/submit—we’re here for you. 🇺🇸 Do what you can. I’ll do my part. Do more than you would have done had Hillary been elected. I’ll join you. Together, we’re stronger. And we need all the strength in the world—for the world—now.

Every day, millions of women, children, men–of all religions and roots–engage in millions of little acts of kindness, expressions of the goodness that is our birthright. Sadly, it only takes one person full of hate to bend our fate backward–to mar our peace. But let us remember: hate can harm, but it can never defeat love as long as we are firm and resolute in our principles: all of us are created equal. Let us all together pray for all those suffering everywhere. Let us feel our feelings rather than avoiding them, face the facts of our situation rather than lapsing into false hope or mindless aggression, and then let us get up and do: serve, find our purpose, and help—therein is true joy. Let us love harder, and hug it out with those we may disagree with, and mean it.” ~ @waylonlewis #mayitbeofbenefit 🇺🇸 Get our best, free: elephantjournal.com/best

“Feel the feelings, first. Face the facts, second—do not avoid reality. Then, vow to be of service. What will our path be the next four years? Service is the greatest joy.” @waylonlewis’ new video on YouTube.com/elephantjournal

A photo posted by Elephant Journal (@elephantjournal) on Nov 9, 2016 at 10:18am PST

Let’s remember how to disagree agreeably—were all in this boat together. For more, read “6 points of Mindful Speech” on elephantjournal.com—a great power we have is to listen, and in so doing we may defeat our enemies by turning them into our friends. #mayitbeofbenefit #abrahamlincoln <3 #AgreeToDisagree #AdultsHaveDiscussions

A photo posted by Elephant Journal (@elephantjournal) on Nov 8, 2016 at 7:28am PST

Bonus: