1. Some of the post-election conversations in the US sound a lot like the post-conflict zone conversations I’ve heard in various countries I’ve studied and worked in. Quick thread on why the next few months are going to be very difficult: https://twitter.com/rabiasquared/status/1325596863622475779

2. I don’t need to re-cite all the articles here, but I think most of us agree with the premise that there was something qualitatively different about the Trump era.

3. I have a lot to say about reconciliation in this context, but let’s just focus on something preliminary and basic for now: conversations about post-conflict reconciliation often naturally create two camps:

4. (a) those who believe that individuals just need to come together and heal interpersonally (this will perhaps trickle up to the systems in place), and (b) those who believe that the conflict is fundamentally structural.

5. Who falls into what category often depends on privilege, and your proximity to state violence.

6. Those in the individual camp argue something like this: the people on the other side are fundamentally good people. They are struggling and misguided and made a mistake. With empathy and compassion, we can transcend our differences.

7. Those in the structural camp argue something like this: the struggle is not interpersonal - never has been. It is historical and structural.

8. Interpersonal niceties mean little, when one of them voted – twice maybe – to uphold systems of oppression that devastate me and people I love. Just because you are personally nice to me doesn’t negate the fact that you voted to uphold policies that seek to destroy me.

9. With this, "reconciliation" debates are hollow. You cannot love me interpersonally, but vote to fortify systems of oppression that seek to destroy me, my family, & my culture. 71 million voted for this – after 4 years of nonstop reporting. You cannot feign ignorance. You knew.

10. You may be nice to me personally, but what systems of oppression are you will to prop up? You may pat me on the back at the bar over drinks, but does my survival mean anything to you?

11. This is the fundamental impasse. This is what post-conflict countries have dealt with (among other things) consistently. This conversation has always been present in the US – among African Americans, indigenous communities, etc – but it’s only now reaching the mainstream.

12/12. I have no immediate answers, but I know it's going to be a long road ahead.