Before I start, let me make 2 points very clearly.

  1. If I had to vote in the US, I would have voted for Hillary Clinton.
  2. I am no political expert – and I can’t even say I followed the campaign that closely!

Now that these disclaimers have been made, I would like to share some of my thoughts on this controversial topic.

A large part of the planet is in shock over these news, they can’t believe what just happened. How could Trump possibly be elected?

This shock is what I want to speak about.

What have they not seen? What have they not heard? What have Democrats not spoken to? What have they misjudged?

I’m not that surprised Trump has won this election. He has talked to the feelings. He has talked to the fear and to the hope. He’s made average people feel heard and seen. He’s talked to them in plain concrete English instead of talking in an abstract language. He didn’t talk to the heads, he talked to the hearts… He has also talked WITH his feelings. He might be a liar, he might be saying the most ridiculous and scary things, his, at times grotesque personality, gave the perception that he was speaking from the heart and being authentic!

On the other hand, Hillary Clinton is a master at controlling her emotions, raising the doubt that she even has any… She doesn’t seem real. Why she never addressed the true issues that people had with her is still a wonder to me… People like people that feel ‘real’. Feelings are not overrated or just ‘soft things’. They are what people make decisions on. It might be unfortunate but it’s often a reality. It takes a lot of self-awareness and self-control to not let your emotions drive your decisions. I struggle with that almost every single day!

Trump is also an embodiment of many of the American values. A self-made man fighting for what he believes in. That will speak to many! America doesn’t have a tall poppy syndrome like Australia has. Americans like people that succeed. They like people that have big dreams, they’re inspired by that!

I  despise many of the ideas that Trump has put on the table AND I can also see and be impressed by what he’s been able to achieve. It’s not because many of his ideas are stupid and dangerous that what he’s just been able to accomplish isn’t just phenomenal! Becoming the 45th president of the US with close to 50% of the popular vote, without the backing from the ‘system’, without the experience, with a ridiculously small staff in comparison to Clinton’s army of civil servants, with a very small portion of her campaign budget, you can’t say that’s not something to be impressed by!

I think it’s our inability to see the good in someone else’s position, argument, expression that comes in the way of us truly understanding what it’s like for them or for people who believe in them. For us to truly understand, we need to be able to totally embody the other side, the other pole of the equation like if it was ours… There is a part of me that also doesn’t feel right to think 50% of the Americans who voted for him are wrong… I feel there is somewhat of an arrogance in holding that position… For them, Trump felt right. “You represent the best of America” said Hillary Clinton in her conceding speech. That’s almost the first thing she said! What does that say about the others???

And what if Trump was the best for this country? How could we possibly hold that thought? I know, it feels impossible, but we should try. There are many broken things in most of the political systems throughout the world. Politics is no longer just about fighting for ideals – mind you was it ever was? In the corporate word, “being political” is seen as must and yet it is also seen as dirty word almost, what does that say about the political arena? But I’m digressing!

The elites of this country will have to do a lot of soul searching to understand what happened and where they failed. The people who just voted as a “protest vote” will also have to reflect on the consequences of their action. The ones who didn’t turn up to vote as well.

But this country also needs to heal, it’s time for people to “lick their wounds” (I can’t remember which of the 3 said that!). It’s time for the DSA (Divided States of America) to become the USA again. It will take time.

From an outsider perspective, like many, I am curious to see what will emerge out of this process. How will the system adapt, both internally and throughout the world? What will change? What will not? How will the Democrats recover? How will the Republicans behave under that new leadership? How will the world order be impacted? 20 years from now, how will we look back on yesterday? What will that have enabled?

I wouldn’t have voted for Trump but I refuse to fall in the pessimistic trap that most people around me are falling into. I want to believe that the ‘system’ will contain him enough so that he can’t do all the damage he’s promised to do. I want to believe that in our current age, and especially in the US, democracy is stronger than the will of a single man. I want to believe that there are many smart Republicans around him and that individuals will be brave and continue to fight for what’s right and not just become puppets or shall I say ‘Trumppets’. As Barack Obama said in his speech this morning, “everybody is entitled a presumption of good faith” and I want to give Donald Trump that presumption. Because frankly, we have no other choice anyway!

In true American words, “God bless America” and may I add “God bless the world”!