Last night, instead of studying for a pressing Organic Chemistry exam, I spent the night with my eyes glued to my computer screen, as the results slowly came in on who was projected to win the Presidential Election 2016. Innumerable tweets and Facebook posts ranted about how some results were unexpected, some highly unappreciated, with a few people simply distraught over how divided our nation was last night. For the first time in a while, we got to see the true colors of political polarization, and the profound effect it has on our country as a whole.
I fell asleep by 12, therefore not being able to see the results as they came in towards the end. But, I woke up at 4:32 AM, looked at my phone, and just stared at my ceiling for more than half an hour. Like many, I was shocked, and it was a moment (or half hour) I will never forget. In my eyes, the choice was clear. Either we voted for the ultimate personification of white supremacy, or we voted for a more-than-qualified woman who would protect the rights of those who needed it.
But, to my surprise (and dismay), Trump was the victor. Trump had managed to dupe me into thinking he was so outrageous, ill-tempered, and disrespectful that no one would vote for him. But, he proved me wrong. In fact, more than wrong. With Republican control of both the House and Senate, he proved me much more than wrong.
It broke my heart this morning to see immigrants, LGBTQs, rape victims, women, non-American citizens and non-citizens of the United States not only express their disgust, but their fear for the future. Because of what played out yesterday, people remain in their homes this morning hugging loved ones and grieving over their loss of freedom. And, I sympathize. I know what it is like to be alienated for being different – it was the theme of most of my elementary school experience. I know what that feels like. And if you haven’t experienced it, nothing hurts more than being scared of walking these streets and not knowing if you’ll be the victim of someone’s gross discrimination today.
All of that aside, there comes the crucial question…
Where do we go from here?
What do we do? Do we continue to tweet and post about our disgust in America for being so politically divided we couldn’t successfully choose between two evils? Do we lament about not being able to face other countries, knowing the decision we made? Do we continue to remain divided, shaming Clinton and Trump supporters for their decisions?
No.
We fight.
And we fight again. We see injustice and we fight it. We feel threatened and we fight for ourselves, our mothers, our fathers, our brothers, our sisters, our friends, our lovers. We fight.
America was never not great, and that definitely doesn’t mean that it isn’t now.
America was always great, and there are countless people to thank for that. Countless great souls have fought for our rights today. Countless. We have gained the right to stand in a booth and vote, with freedom. Before we complain about the results, we should celebrate that we were able to vote freely in that booth, and we weren’t held to gunpoint to elect a leader, nor were we simply given a leader (as they do in monarchies).
We celebrate our rights, and we secure them.
Too many people have given their lives to the cause that we personify today. Too many people have given lives to preserve our freedom as a nation and as individuals for us to give up.
In fact, this is any time but the time to give up. It is time to use what we have, and fight for more rights.
Obama was an incredible President, probably too incredible to put into words. And the amount of progress we have made over the past 8 years is not something to be discredited or pushed aside because your favorite leader was not elected. This is not the time.
This is the time to use all of the tools your predecessors gave you to progress our nation, and fight against anyone who says otherwise. If you feel like this election disappointed Martin Luther King Jr., Susan B. Anthony, and Clinton, then fight. Make it your mission to fight what they believed for, and preserve it for our future.
Today is a hard day for many Americans, but it is the true test of the American.
When faced with adversity, we do not turn the other way. Even if we are the only ones standing, we look adversity in the eye and fight against it. And if you want to make through the next 4 years, this better be the definition of the ‘true American’ that you choose to remember.
America, it isn’t over. It is your time to shine. Show the world how progressive we can be, even in times of such great difficulty.
You can do it. We can do it.
