As I hear the news of bad decisions being made in the government of the nation where I live – when I imagine the way these decisions are being received by some – I experience grief and anger and disappointment. But the first and loudest emotion is concern.

I am worried for my friends who live in a society where so many people voted for promises of these decisions. Because these decisions treat so many of us with a kind of blatent overbearing contempt and disregard which I view as obscene.

The decisions that are being made are antithetical to the way people should treat each other, live in community with each other.

A basic expectation for the individual person living in community with other people is at least an attempt at understanding for others, even when they seem different from you, and from this a respect for the dignity and safety and autonomy of other people. If you cannot handle these expectations then you need to grow up and learn how or I am personally going to bite you.

The apparent fact that so many people wanted this to happen is making me dread the way ordinary people will feel comfortable treating each other now, in our every day lives where we have to get along beside one another.

Maybe I should have more faith in ordinary people but right now I feel scared for my friends.

One thing I am trying to remember is that we are not alone in this, not really, even when it feels that way. There are so many people, however discouraged, who even now are working to show up and repair the damage done by these decisions.

We will take this wildly degrading, dangerous, and unnecessary experience one day at a time. And we will be there for each other when we can.