". . . and I stood silent in front of the class for a long time. I don’t [know] how else to deal with this kind of hate, anger and hostility. So I stood there and looked at them."

Carolyn, this struck me as an eloquent way to express your reaction to their behavior.  It is perhaps too subtle for some, but others will understand and reflect on what had just occurred.

It is interesting that you were reflecting on the connection between you and your family members during the election.  We too were in touch.  Beth called from Russia where she was watching in an American style diner in Moscow with a host of other expats and young Russian university students.  Our guest visiting from Seattle received calls from her children and husband.  Beth's boyfriend actually returned to Chicago for the election even though he had already voted.  It would be interesting to examine whether the phone lines across the country and around the world were buzzing in unusual patterns and what parts of the world had the heaviest activity.