America, The Resilient: 4 Inspiring Moments In Our History

"Out of darkness comes light.” Never has this proven more powerful a proverb than in a time of political cholera. Over the course of this race for the presidency, our country has become increasingly polarized—and this morning, after a night of clinging to numbers in red or in blue, or dozing off to briefly escape our brutal reality, we as Americans faced a country more polarized than ever.

From the beginning, we have done our damnedest to maintain a neutral yet wittily nuanced stance on the election that has rippled across the world. Our approach has been one of stylistically masked doubt and self-assuredness (perhaps undue) juxtaposed—a calm, cool, and collected modus operandi designed to avoid offending or isolating others. But the seemingly impossible has transpired, and what choice have we now? It’s a question many of us are asking inside this cloud that enshrouds New York City, where everyone seems to be hanging their heads and even shedding tears. The word “cataclysm” comes to mind in its most pure etymological form — a deluge. To wash down. A biblical defeat.

So where do we go from here? Though the answer remains unclear as of yet, a sliver of consolation is ever-present. And in true NYC fashion, it is in our nature to highlight the beauty and the positivity that is birthed from times seemingly devoid of hope. Just as so many Americans have done when faced with oppression in its various manifestations. Think about it: how many times have we been faced with such hopelessness, and brought it to its knees? Historically, love, hope, and righteousness tend to prevail against their polar opposites in this country, a cycle perpetuated by the irrepressibility that is so distinctly American.

Above, we’ve compiled examples of such American resilience. Though brief and just a tiny fraction of the countless instances that have contributed to the welfare of our nation over time, they are bound to keep us afloat during this time of anguish. For just as oppression and darkness are systemic, so are resilience and light.

This article originally appeared on Milk.XYZ