nothin New Haven Independent | Election Reflection: Professionals’…

Election Reflection: Professionals’ Perspectives

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It’s safe to say that there has never been an election with the impact of the one that took place in November. Sentiments are still running high in the days leading up to the inauguration of Donald Trump.

Facebook has become a big platform for those struggling to understand what happened and how to cope with the future. People are reflecting, reaching out to each other, and mobilizing, Branford residents included.

As of last week 100,000 people have registered to attend the Women’s March on Washington, scheduled for Jan. 21, the day after the inauguration. According to the Washington Post, the event has become a catch-all for a host of liberal causes, from immigrant rights to police killings of African Americans. But at its heart is the demand for equal rights for women after an election that saw the defeat of Democrat Hillary Clinton, the first female presidential nominee of a major party.”

Pantsuit Nation, a Facebook group with 3.9 million members, began as a celebration of Hillary Clinton’s anticipated election as President. Members wrote about their joy in voting for the first woman President and shared their sorrows at her defeat. They have since banded together to show solidarity for issues that may be threatened by a Trump administration.

Counselors and Clients Struggle

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As clinicians, it’s been hard for us,” said Catherine Stone (pictured), clinical director at Branford Counseling Center. We’re supposed to be apolitical.

We are a tightknit group and benefit from the very tools we use to help others. We have had many lively conversations and are respectful of the varying political views we hold.”

She believes anyone who is marginalized” is affected by the election, adding that many clients already feel disenfranchised and marginalized. She’s not sure about the number of people affected, but she said it feels like the majority of their clients.

People were expressing their concerns leading up to the election. Stone said that happened at Branford Counseling Center as well. I don’t remember an election ever being this heated or divisive,” Stone said. The election has also caused added tension to many families where there was disagreement about the best candidate.”

Specifically, Stone said clients are concerned about LGBTQ rights, changes to environmental issues, deportations, and biases against some religions; several have expressed dismay on how Trump views women.

We cannot minimize these reactions, even if we do not share the same fears,” she said. People need to be heard and validated.”

Republicans have vowed to gut the Affordable Care Act (ACA) which has provided insurance to some 20 million people. Stone said that’s concerning to her clients. We have several clients who have been able to obtain healthcare because of the ACA. Some of these clients have expressed concern about future healthcare benefits,” said Stone. At the same time, many of these clients have such high deductibles that they feel little benefit in having the coverage.”

In terms of advice, Stone said, People need a safe space to express their opinions, free of judgment, no matter who they hoped would fill the role of president. Once we gain a better understanding of how people have been triggered, we can work on interventions to help better manage strong reactions and emotions,” she said. Often, just listening and remaining empathetic is the best intervention.”

Viewpoints from the Clergy

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Rev. Sharon Gracen (pictured), rector of Trinity Episcopal Church on the Green, and a couple of members of her parish going to the Women’s March on Washington. She said that lots of Episcopal women clergy will be attending.

The Connecticut chapter of the Women’s March on Washington has organized buses throughout the state. Most are full, including the one leaving from Branford at 1:30 a.m. the day of the march. As of this report, local rallies are also planned for Stamford and Hartford.

Gracen hosted two meetings at Trinity right after the election. People have to have a way to talk about things… in presence of like-minded people,” she said. People are coming in, saying, I’m struggling.’”

She said that people have been seeking her out. This was hard in some ways, destabilizing. I don’t recognize things as the way I understood my country and fellow Americans.”

However, she said she tries not to be overly political. I run the risk of turning people off who wouldn’t hear any other message… I walk a fine line to keep people who need messages still willing to hear them.”

Gracen said she has to listen to the voices that my baptismal covenant said are important.”

She added, If this is what it takes to get people to think and mobilize around big issues… human issues… it takes a threat no, not on my watch.”

Rev. Keane’s View

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Rev. Bill Keane (pictured), of First Baptist Church, said, I think we have folks all over the map politically. Overall, [the election] is not a not topic of conversation.”
 
He said that people are used to respecting elections and the results. Let’s respect the results,” he said, adding that they can be a springboard.”

Keane said, Churches can be isolated… that’s not us. It’s a place where people can learn to do better… schools should be that way as well. We can be modeling that on the community.”

Keane noted that, in his view, everyone is against racism and bigotry. Diversity cuts both liberal and conservative. We see ourselves as empowering in our faith as a model to make things better.”

A former journalist who has been at First Baptist for 19 years, Keane said one of the best things is that we have lots of different sources for our news. He is concerned about the way Bernie Sanders was treated despite his grassroots support; he believes he was set up to keep from prevailing.” Keane said that young people got involved in politics because of him and there will be fallout there.

You do want young people involved,” he said, adding that schools have to teach how the Electoral College works and what it means. It’s genius!” he said, referring to the fact that 50 states and the District of Columbia come together to elect the President. And in this election, the number of electoral votes, 304 to 227, overrode the popular vote for Hillary Clinton, now nearing 3 million.

Keane appears to be optimistic about the future. America is a strong country – it’s important to see that the Clinton campaign never took the middle class, working class, and those out of work seriously,” he said. If the president does well, we do well – a failed government with gridlock is not good.”

How to Respond


Many residents in Branford and beyond are still struggling and say they need a way to channel their frustrations. That is one of the reasons so many plan to march on Washington, the day after the inauguration, they say.

Anyone with a Facebook account or email address has been inundated with calls to action, petitions to sign, requests for donations, and phone numbers of Congressional representatives to call. 

A guide prepared by former Congressional staffers describes grassroots strategies going back to Tea Party organizers, on how to interact with members of Congress and ways to organize locally.

Said President Barack Obama in his farewell speech Tuesday, Lace up your shoes and do some organizing.”

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