A World That Offered No Security

 The generation I belong to was born into a world where those with a brain as well as a heart couldn't find any support. The destructive work of previous generations left us a world that offered no security in the religious sphere, no guidance in the moral sphere, and no tranquillity in the political sphere. We were born into the midst of metaphysical anguish, moral anxiety and political disquiet.

Fernando Pessoa, The Book of Disquiet, text 175

In a time of extreme disquiet, I suppose it's not surprising Pessoa continues to resonate so profoundly. When I watch the talking heads dissect this distressing election (and I've made an effort to watch as little as possible) it's obvious that they don't have the power to do so, mainly because they are viewing the issue on the micro level (i.e. mistakes in the Democratic platform or in a particular speech - or Trump's decision to double-down on racism and grievance) and not even trying to grapple with the problems revealed on the macro level (the religious, moral, and political spheres that Pessoa referenced above). And it's not simply the generation voting now which so alarmingly displays any sort of depth of thought or humanity (or even common sense) that I find so troubling. After the election I wrote to several of my friends who had daughters and told them that, as bad as I feel at this moment, I feel much worse for them. Think of the lives that those young women will be forced to lead - and think of the non-lives of the children they won't have, and not because of abortion, but because of their decision to not have children, because, well, why would they? What dream for the future is inspired by this electoral abortion?