Lexical Gap No. 11: Die Schnapsidee

The darkest timeline

I won't discuss politics (much) in this month's newsletter, but it would be disingenuous of me to ignore the very real fact that the United States held a presidential election this past month and how its effects will have very real consequences on my life, and the lives of my family, friends, and readers.

If you follow me on social media, you'll pretty much guess straight away what my political leanings are. I've never hidden them, nor am I ashamed of them, nor am I opposed to considering different points of view. After all, I am a liberal who grew up with a Republican mother and a politically independent father, and we still manage to have cordial—even loving—conversations around the Thanksgiving table.

But this election did not feel like one based on politics; it felt like one based on identity. I understand that our discourse in this country has become increasingly polarized over the years, but I had always had faith in our democracy and our what I perceived to be our shared Americ…