It's Wednesday morning. I'm lying in my bed. It's about 9 o'clock. My mum walks into the room. I look at her with big eyes. She sits down at the end of my bed. "What do you think?", she asks. I hesitate. "Well?" she insisted. "Uhm... Hillary?", I said with doubt in my voice. She looks at me, she tries to smile, to give me a feeling of safety. I know what's to come. "No", she says, "it's Trump." A silence. That name, that awful name and all that it represents. "I'm never going to leave this bed ever again", I said while rolling myself like a wrap into my duvet.

However I did. I did leave the bed. After ten minutes or so I got out of my comforting wrap and faced the day.

I haven't turned on the news yet. I don't want to see the news yet.


I just came across this quote and somehow, out of context, I thought it to be quite suitable considering the current situation:


Nightmare scenario? Perhaps. (Yes). But after Brexit I think we all knew it was going to happen. I mean, the main problem is dissatisfaction. Any opportunity to go against the grain, against the status-quo, is grabbed with both hands. Which is a good thing when going against discrimation, racism, unequality etc. However I think we all know, in this instant, that isn't the case. I'm worried. I'm sad. I'm dissatisfied. Especially considering that these days 'going against the grain' apparently means 'going against anything that doesn't fit the heteronormative world view'. And it isn't just dissatisfaction with the established order, it's fear. Fear of the unknown. And it's a dangerous kind of fear. Especially when the unknown is anything that falls outside the specifications of 'white western middle class male'. I'm claustrophobic and I really get an uncomfortable itch, a feeling of discomfort, a panic attack even, because of that tight little space that's being put forward. A space where there is simply no space. There's no space for 'other'. While there is more 'other' than imaginable, there is so much more space available. So. Much. More. Space. So let's go to space! I couldn't agree more with Brittany (from B is for Brittany), who wrote on Instagram:

All rise! There's no time anymore to sit around! As Louise (Sprinkle of Glitter) said on her Instagram (apparently I'm all over Instagram today):


We are our own support group. We need to give a good example. We are the example. We are the ones in control. Even though this control isn't currently reflected in politics world wide, it doesn't mean it isn't there for us to choose, use and cherish. Because even though I'm not a Brit or American, these kind of decisions are a reflection of a bigger problem within politics and within a power un-balance that goes with it. Globalisation can sometimes be a b*tch when it comes to spreading a certain ideology that's based on fear rather than on facts. But, in our case, it can also be a super power. I don't stand alone. Brittany is not standing alone. Louise is not standing alone. We're all standing together. With our foot sternly on the ground and our hands in the air, making good use of all the space available. Spread the space, spread the change!

Love,
Dominique