Nov. 6 rolls around, and “All I Want For Christmas Is You” by Mariah Carey is playing on your radio. You drive to Starbucks, order a Grande Peppermint Mocha, and tap your foot, gently swaying to the jazzy Christmas music inside. On your drive home, you notice the array of festive holiday decorations displayed on your neighbors’ lawns. While walking back inside your home, you realize that something feels off, but you can’t put your finger on it. Veering on the side of caution, you head to see your local doctor. Despite your astute assurance that it can’t be true, the doctor confirms it: you were infected with Democrazy.
*Democrazy: A social coping mechanism to transform political disillusionment into magical holiday joy. Symptoms may include replacing political yard signs with inflatable snowmen, overdosing on hot chocolate and gingerbread cookies, and watching every Hallmark Christmas movie before Thanksgiving.
While Nov. 6 definitely isn’t Christmas (or even the beginning of December), the holiday spirit is already widespread across the nation. Arguably, Nov. 6 is the most pivotal day of the year — a day people hold their breaths and silently pray: it’s the day after the election.
Because of this, Americans all over the country have begun channeling their anxieties and worries about the state of our country into a productive outlet— Christmas. I think we can all agree that forcing the holiday spirit is one of the healthier responses to stress. When faced with uncertainty, we long for comfort. A tried and true coping mechanism is over-consumption, and America truly does it the best.
This year, the election felt more personal than ever as more rights hung in the balance of a self-serving “leader” whose priorities do not truly align with the well-being of his constituents. But as the result arose, many were forced to confront the frustrating reality that their hopes didn’t align with the nation’s choice. It was frustrating and exhausting. But we, as Americans, rally. It’s the only option, right? We can’t impeach him… again.
This pivot to happier emotions is imperative. I wouldn’t call it escapism, rather survival. For the many disappointed by the outcome, we realized that all we could control was our emotions. So, we reclaimed our power. Without a doubt, it’s easier to vilify the majority who voted differently. But the truth has nuance. Too many voters are forced to grapple with their own survival; so, their decisions were driven by the financial strain that so many Americans are facing today.
This division is difficult to resolve. But the best way to narrow the divide is not through arguments or debates. It’s through shared human experience: holiday season memories. So, as the holiday season approaches, it’s definitely appealing to lean into the Christmas magic. Democrazy may be the most unifying coping mechanism of all.
