I've been disappointed in America's choices lately. It started over the summer, when American movie-goers had the chance to change the genre of action: are you going to watch an all female cast pursuing the future of gender equality in a typically male-dominated field (Ghostbusters), or are you going to choose the conceptual action movie with the main female lead portrayed as a crazy sex object, dependent on a man, and unable to make her own decisions (Suicide Squad)? Guess which movie was a flop? That choice felt very familiar as Wednesday came around, and I typed "who won the election" into Google. I shouldn't have been surprised. The glass ceiling is hard to break.
I had the privilege to spend election night with someone who supported neither Clinton nor Trump. We discussed his policies. Joked about his hair. But as soon as I woke up on Wednesday I saw a cloud wash over my community. I didn't see many smiles. Anyone wearing a "Make America Great Again" shirt was given nasty glances. People were genuinely scared for every reason imaginable. It seemed that anyone who had a claim to any minority group felt their life was over. I've heard everything from theories that Putin secretly rigged the election, to just "the system worked against us." I've heard some who have considered cutting off their engagement because marriage equality might not last under his rule, and a plethora who have planned to leave the US in the spring. "I guess I'm going to be sent back to _______." Has become small talk.
The problem was, that was only half the population. At least in the highly liberal microcosm where I live, the trump supporters have been mostly silent. Besides the massive spike in hate crimes, the less radical supporters didn't say much. I was surprised that those who did vote for him actually had very valid reasons. Everyone who I talked to was a person of color. Many said they wanted to see a change in America and they thought he would bring that. Even if he brings some bad, at least it will be new. My personal favorite commented that Clinton's crimes were opaque while Trump's crimes were invisible. Would you choose what is there or what might be there?
Not all trump supporters are bigoted monsters. While I myself am still scared of all the hatred that has been voiced since his campaign, maybe it's not wholly a bad thing. The hatred has been here the whole time, he is just the one who brings it to light. In my mind, Donald Trump is just one big orange Mento that has just been popped into the Pepsi that is the United States. Maybe after all of this is over, Americans will be better able to address the subtextual racism that has plagued us since the beginning.
