Alexander Dolitsky: Political grief and what our sorrow says about our values

By ALEXANDER DOLITSKY

Grief is not merely pain; it is a powerful testament to the love, connection, and beauty that was once present; a sacred and inherent part of the human experience where the depth of sorrow mirrors the depth of the positive bond that was lost.

In the context of modern American politics, this concept manifests as “political grief.”

Instead of mourning specific individuals, people are grieving the disruption of their core assumptions about the world—their sense of safety, justice, and national identity—which were built upon ingrained ideas of love, connection, patriotism, and beauty.

In the early 1980s, I was a Ph. D. student in the Anthropology Department at Bryn Mawr College in Pennsylvania. At Bryn Mawr, the academic scholarship and stipend could cover only my immediate necessities. So, to supplement my $400 per month stipend, I worked as a security officer in the nearby St. Joseph’s University situated along the City Line Avenue of Philadelphia.

Then, St. Joseph’s was a medium-size private Catholic school, well-known for its basketball program, competing in the Atlantic 10 Conference. The school was also known for its Saturday night students’ parties on campus, followed by Sunday Mass and confession by most students at the Saint Joseph’s University Chapel. To my recollection, some 120 to 140 Catholic priests on the campus provided counselling to students and faculty members.

About 15–20 unarmed security officers, including myself, were employed by the University and were on duty 24/7 during different shifts. Among the officers were five supervisors—two sergeants, lieutenant, captain and a big boss—the chief of security. He was a retired high-ranking Philadelphia police officer. Most officers were black, but there was one Filipino and four or five Caucasians. I appreciated the multi-cultural environment of the group and learned a great deal about race and America’s ethnic diversity from this group.

One day, during a friendly conversation, an officer confided in me, sharing his personal story of how grief and a family tragedy ultimately led to an enhancement in his family’s well-being.

“My family is struggling financially to make ends meet due to the expenses associated with raising three children, caring for elderly parents, and managing my wife’s significant medical issues,” the officer reluctantly revealed to me. “In fact, after I finish my shift at the University, I then work in the kitchen of a small neighborhood restaurant,” he continued.

I listened carefully to my coworker’s disclosure:

“A difficult family tragedy took place last year, but it ultimately may have helped pave the way for a brighter future and a renewed sense of purpose. My youngest toddler was hospitalized with severe pneumonia sickness. Tragically, a failure in his medical care led to his oxygen being cut off, causing a permanent disability.”

“I’m sorry to hear of your troubles and loss,” I empathized to my co-worker.

“Well, these troubles can be a blessing for my other children,” he admitted shamefully.

“We received five hundred thousand dollars from the insurance company. Yes, due to a permanent disability, my toddler will require lifelong care, with all associated expenses fully covered by medical insurance. He will be okay. But, the insurance payout, resulting from the malpractice claim, can be used to help the other children attend college and cover their essential needs. Well, even in sorrow, there is an inherent good,” he concluded.

For a while, I was profoundly affected by my co-worker’s candid and practical approach. Indeed, all sadness is accompanied by some form of goodness; it does not deny the pain of sadness itself, but suggests that within or following periods of sorrow, positive outcomes can emerge.

Sacrifice of one, may lead to a positive change for others as altruism or a selfless act that creates a ripple effect, benefiting the community, collective growth, and fostering empathy and solidarity, demonstrating how one person’s giving, whether it’s Moses, Jesus Christ, or Charlie Kirk,  can inspire broader positive transformation and connection to all.

In this view, the “goodness” found in political “sadness and turbulence” in our country today is not the suffering itself, but the resilience, engagement, and potential for positive social and political change that emerges consequently.

The concept that grief is a testament to love and connection, translates into modern American politics through the phenomenon of political grief, where intense emotional responses to political events reflect a deep attachment to Judeo-Christian values, identities, and a shared vision for the nation.

The author was born and raised in the former Soviet Union before settling in the U.S. in 1978. He moved to Juneau in 1986 where he taught Russian studies and Archaeology at the University of Alaska Southeast, and Social Studies Teacher at the Alyeska Central School of the Alaska Department of Education. From 1990 to 2022, he served as a director and president of the Alaska-Siberia Research Center, publishing in the fields of anthropology, history, archaeology and ethnography. Find him on Amazon.com.

Alexander Dolitsky: A peaceful new year to all, and cheers to new beginnings!