This diary is a repost of a FB post written by Molly Lannon Kenny. I think there are many people who are feeling this way and can’t express it this well. Reposted with her permission.
Berning down the house: I have been thinking this through for the past couple of days and want to get some thoughts out. I love Bernie Sanders. When I watched him at the convention, I wanted to cry the whole time, knowing that this man with so much passion, so much integrity, so much ability to grow and change to meet the needs of his constituency, the American people, could have been our nominee, and if he was, would have had a much better chance of beating Trump. We would not be in the position we are in right now if it weren't for the lies and corruption of the DNC. Is it really any wonder that people feel completely disillusioned by the party and don't want to vote at all? Is that really "being ridiculous?" I don't think so.
Here's the thing: I donated money to Bernie every time he asked - and he asked a lot. I phone banked, in English and in Spanish, in the midst of packed teacher trainings, in between travel, on vacation. I talked to people all over the country who were passionate, excited, determined. I let the mean attacks on my character - from some people I consider friends! - wash over me because I believed, for the first time since I have been able to vote, that I was a part of a movement that really put people like me, and people with far less than me, at the very front of the political agenda.
Don't get me wrong - I phone banked for and donated to Obama, but it was different. The platform was different, the stakes were different. With Bernie I really felt like finally, finally, we had someone who was truly "with the people." But with constant meddling from the DNC, with so many people around me saying, "I would vote for him if he could win," but not voting for him so he DID win, he ultimately lost the nomination to Hilary.
Am I proud that a woman will finally be the nominee? Sure, I guess so. I mean, I see the historical moment in that, of course. Because, unlike many would characterize me, and my fellow Bernie supporters, I am not stupid, I am not spending all my time at Phish shows (sorry Phish friends), I am not a pot head, or whatever other disparaging things are being said about us, simply because of our passion. In fact, I have spent my entire adult life fighting for people on the margins. I have founded my own non-profit with the mission of radical social change, I have fought for equality and inclusion in every arena in which I have had any power or voice, I have volunteered thousands of hours of my time to help and to serve the people who are being left behind at every turn by a government that is addicted to big money, while the rest of us are being hounded for credit card debt, student loan debt, health care payments we can't afford and on and on. I have done the work.
So, let me suggest something to all of you who seek to diminish and shame people like me for being less than excited. We are not being ridiculous. What is ridiculous is that people cannot see through to giving us a bit of time and space to grieve and to actually openly acknowledge that the system is rigged and we were never going to have a truthful election anyway. Give us that. Thank us for our hard work and dedication to the game - and yes, I vote in EVERY election. Thank us for our passion and determination. Thank us for raising awareness of what this country really needs in terms of radical change. Thank us for showing what the American people can and will do in our fight against a government and politics that don't care about us and very real concerns, while making the rich richer. Obama gave us a shout out. Maybe you can too.
Yes, I am voting for Hilary. Because I cannot bear the thought of a Trump presidency. He is the most disgusting, hate-mongering, fear mongering, dumb ass to ever even think he could be in this position, and now, thanks to the state of the States, he really is there. And he really could win. And that would be devastating for generations to come, not to mention what would happen immediately in our country, and how we would look around the world. Trump is the most foul kind of human. With him in the presidency, we would have no chance of moving any of our collective Bernie agenda forward. With Hilary, we might. And we know that her nominations for the supreme court will be what we need to shape the country.
So, yes, yes, I get it. "I'm with her." she says with resignation. But please stop putting people down who are rightfully cynical and depressed about being force fed the candidate we did not want. Show some tolerance and compassion and respect for people who worked really hard and believed in something powerful.
With that mindset, you might be able to convince the "Bernie or Bust" or the write-ins, etc. to change their mind. It won't, i can tell you, come from shaming and belittling them, but from you hearing their voices, hearing their frustration, acknowledging the work that they have done and what they must be feeling now, and then, from that place, having a conversation with them. If they are going to vote for Hillary, it will be because they already know they have to (I know what some of my friends are saying - and I feel you too), or they have been convinced by their own discernment, perhaps, with the input of friends who respect and honor where they are starting from.
By the way, am I allowed to say I will only accept positive comments? I'm tired of fighting. Also, please don't respond by schooling me about Hilary. I am talking about listening here, and being with people's pain and disillusionment. It's that knee jerk need to insert your righteousness that I am asking you to consider.