I don’t know what to think. It is hard to believe this has happened.
Leading up to the election, I knew Hillary Clinton had to win. Every story of Donald Trump on the news baffled me with his extreme comments and demeaning slurs. He insisted on ‘building a wall and making Mexico pay for it’, demanded a ban on all Muslims from America, and insulted women. He used hateful rhetoric to run his campaign, marginalized minority groups across America, and is accused of sexual assault. Clinton was always, in my mind, the obvious candidate the entire time.Throughout her entire time in service, she has worked for the people of America. She advocates for the rights of those who are marginalized and is concerned for all citizens in our country. People have twisted her emails and Benghazi in ways to make her look unreliable, but her interest has always been to ensure the safety and protection of American people.For her entire career, she has worked and advocated for others. Beginning back in law school, she researched the health and education of migrant farmworkers, gaining in depth knowledge about child health care and later went on to co-found the Arkansas Advocates for Families and Children. She continued fighting for children and families as First Lady when she pushed for a national health care reform. She was elected the first female Senator of New York and pushed for LGBTQ rights. During the Obama candidacy, she held position of Secretary of State where she helped Obama take down Bin Laden and visited 112 countries, developing global connections and conversations for America. Clinton has an extraordinary amount of government experience that many politicians can only fathom completing.
Yet, Donald Trump has been elected America’s 45th President.
A man credited with being real, saying 'what ought to be said', and getting the job done. People like his blunt and rude ways. Some find his authoritative and demeaning ways necessary for America's success. What does that say about us? Donald Trump is not even a true Republican. The majority of current Republicans in the House and Senate refused to endorse him and many still have not.
People want say they want a change. But by electing Trump who wants to “Make America Great Again”, there’s the insinuation that America has become un-great. America does not need saving. America is already globally regarded as an international powerhouse. Our technological and military advancements, along with our established allies and global relations, have made us into a dominating nation. Our country only holds 5% of the world population yet America has the power it seems to make waves across the planet.
Trump wants to leave NATO and isolate our trade. He says he wants to take Wall street and big banks out of politics but how did he gain all his wealth? He admits to playing dirty, taking shortcuts, doing what is best for his business. He plans to continue to do what he thinks is best for his new company, America, by leaving NATO, isolating our trade, repealing Obamacare, allowing energy groups to pursue environmentally hurtful projects, deporting more than 2 million illegal immigrants, and selecting his choice of a Supreme Court judge.
Government is not a business operation, though. We are built on a foundation of democracy, freedom, and will of the people. Running a country like a business further creates hierarchies and social ladders of inequality.
The way Trump has gained his power can not be overlooked. Many people may want to just look at his policies, which overall are vague and uncertain. Donald Trump beat out all the other candidates, not by being a respectable politician though. He used demeaning rhetoric, slandered racial groups, and pinpointed America’s downfalls on minorities. He denied every negative accusation, including statements he had indeed said and had been recorded, and claimed when things were not looking favorable for him that the ‘system was rigged’.
We do not hear any complaints about the system now.
I am in disbelief. I am worried for the future of America. Donald Trump may not be the actual problem, but just a symptom, one who has exposed the long-lasting systemic racist and misogynistic society we live in today. How contradictory America is, then. We pride ourselves on being ‘a melting pot’, on being inclusive, on housing diverse communities. In reality though Trump has brought out the worst of America, the America that is not fundamentally grounded in the freedoms we all are supposed to have rights to.
I can’t say what the next step is because I don’t know. Each of our experiences leading up to this and hereafter have been and will be different. Let’s not close off our doors but rather be open to others, listen to others, and accept everyone. We can as individuals still share our kindness and acceptance to fight against those who are oppressing others. For as Hillary Clinton said "if we stand together and work together with respect for our differences, strength in our convictions, and love for this nation, our best days are still ahead of us."
