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Her stance also exposed the limits of symbolic politics. Movements can set moral standards, but institutions operate differently. Justice, accountability, and electoral success don’t always move in the same direction. When they diverge, voters are left holding the weight of that contradiction, often alone.
Omar’s words resonated because many people privately navigate the same calculus. They believe survivors, but also fear political outcomes that could strip rights, normalize cruelty, or entrench dangerous power. They vote with clenched teeth, knowing their choice solves nothing completely. Omar gave language to that experience.
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