For now, I must say that it appears to me that some of the voters whose candidate lost are behaving as in a very depressed and angry manner, and many of those whose candidate won are, for lack of a better word, gloating.
Racking my brain to think of a more appropriate word than “gloating,” I had an aha moment. I remembered that more than a decade ago there was an episode of the sitcom Two and a Half Men in which the character Rose referenced the German word “schadenfreude.”
After her utterance, she explained that the term basically means taking joy in someone else’s misery. Although I got a kick out of the comedic bit, I recently Googled the word to see if it was an actual expression or was fabricated for the show. Here is the definition of “schadenfreude” that I found at Merriam-Webster.com: Enjoyment obtained from the troubles of others. Understanding that it is indeed an actual definable term, I think it better fits our current political situation than does the word gloating.
Confirming my suspicions of over-the-top emotions following the election, I want to share some of the Facebook messages that I saw Wednesday morning. We have not edited the grammar of the posts or given the names of those who left the comments.
i’m going to rant for one second. i just read a post on a teacher that says she works at an elementary school and she doesn’t know how she’s going to tell her kids (at school) about what happened last night. this infuriates me. how dare you take your personal belief and shove it on these kids. that is not what elementary school is for.
OMG, Trump was right, the election was rigged!
For all the doom and gloomers, I ask you a question, “Who are YOU?” You are being reflected right now. This moment. Are you feeling fear? Despair? Disgust? Face your own demons, rather than point the finger. THIS is how we make the world a better place.
We will not be in trouble no matter who wins. Politics and crazy politicians have been around forever and we’ve survived them all. God is good and he will protect and provide. I will continue to laugh and be merry despite the outcome of the election, no matter which way it goes. I determine my happiness and I manifest my life.
I went to bed last with fear in my heart yet hoping that the final results would be in my favor. I resisted looking at my phone all night but now I know that our country is doomed. I feel sick to my stomach and very afraid of the impact Trump as President will have on our country as well as the world.
The Republicans are cracking open another bottle of wine right now…And the Democrats are popping another Anti-depressant… (Just An Observation).
can i complain about the republicans that are complaining about how the democrats are complaining about the election? if i do, i know that the republicans might complain about how the democrats are complaining about how the republicans are complaining about the democrats complaining about the election…
Presidents don’t make America great, we Americans do. I would ask that we be kind to each other. Before posting, please consider how half your fellow Americans are feeling this day, and what you would want them to say had the outcome had been different. Now that the divisive rhetoric is behind us, please let us seek and emphasize our commonalities. This has been a bitter and ugly campaign. It was not the worst in American history, but it probably was the worst any of us will experience. (I devoutly hope!) Yet, if the two protagonists have been able to find it within themselves to be gracious, conciliatory and noble, then surely we all can.
The delete queen sent out a message that if any trump supporters received a wedding invitation from her and her partner, we are not welcome and to tear it up. If anyone else wants to come. Just send them your address. On a positive note, saving money not having to buy a wedding gift.
