With respect, I do not believe that you are describing me here. I have friends and family effected by several issues, and who–if not lamenting their lost loved one–are in fear of losing either their loved ones or their own life. I am indeed in what I consider (hope?) to be a relatively safe part of the US where my state may go as far as to protect my friends, family and self from what the incoming administration has already said it wishes to do to me and mine. I am trying very hard to ensure the people around me are safe, and I hope that these efforts bear fruit for my community.

I worked to the very last moment of the election to encourage Harris to come out in support of the Palestinians and, to my growing horror as the election progressed, the other victims of the growing conflict. I even did the “harm reduction” of voting for Harris’ plan of gentle chastisement over the outright support and encouragement of Trump’s, for all the good that my vote did.

I will not apologize for my family and friends continued survival and not yet having lost anyone to my knowledge, and will not wish it on them. I hope that you or your loved ones do not experience more loss, and have the space to recover as much as possible from that which you have already experienced. And may we all make it through the hate and violence that have been planned and that those that claimed to stand against it actually do so when it matters.