Who'd you vote for, Mister?

My answer to students

Donald Trump’s victory in the United States presidential election is the biggest news in the world and likely will remain so for some time. Naturally, my freshman students are curious what their teachers think. As a social studies teacher I consider it a moral imperative to educate myself on the issues of the day. It is social studies after all, so it would be poor form to not have at least some knowledge on whatever is happening in the world.

What follows is a version of the answer I’ve been giving all day. Each class, without fail, asked me how I voted. I hope you find it useful too.

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Before I tell you how I voted, I need you to understand something. This election has been insane. At the end of the day, I don’t care who you support. I don’t care who your parents like or dislike. I’m not going to judge you based on your preferences. You are my students, my duty is to educate you. Beyond that, you are my neighbor’s children. My responsibility goes beyond the classroom into the culture I’m apart of and who I am as a person. You deserve a straight answer that’s calmly explained on virtually anything you ask me.

That said, I voted for Trump.

The first reason is Harris. She is an idiot, full stop. When I watch her speak, read her words, there’s nothing home in the space inside her skull. She is a stupid, stupid person. However someone gets to that age in such a vacuous state, I’ll never know.

The second reason is the state of the world. An enormous amount has changed since the end of the Cold War. America’s rise into turbo-charged superpower status, 9/11, the Global War on Terror, and that absolute elimination of the private/public distinction has ended 20th century civilization in some horrible ways. Whatever happens this century will be the stuff of myth and Trump is the devil I know.

I know what to expect from him. I know the kinds of dumb stuff he might do. Harris? Who knows what she’ll do or if it’s even her doing it. Finally, this attitude flows from the fact I am extremely anti-government. I just want to be left alone, like most people in our town. Trump promises a better chance of that happening than Harris.

You should know why I voted. It was important to me to participate in the process in order to allow conversations like this. If I hadn’t voted I wouldn’t be capable of doing my duty to you as your teacher. Whatever you think, whatever you believe, my only hope for you is that you think it through especially in this increasingly insane age.

I voted for Trump. I’m not crazy. I’m not coming after you. I don’t care if you like Harris better. Sure, I might yell a bit about Rome’s eternal glory but you guys know me. I’m here for you no matter what happens.

Make sense? Alright, let’s get back to work.