I’ve seen hate in this country. That hate has led to a division in this country to the point where violence is the answer when having different opinions. I have seen this country fill itself with hate when really we should embrace our differences. For those who do not know, we live in what is called a “melting pot,” which means that our country is a mixture of different cultures, languages and people. For example, you could go down the street and smell different foods, see different people and hear music that brings different cultures to this country. Be proud of that. What is so bad about these people keeping their culture? It is not “corrupting” America or “ruining” our culture because American culture is already a mixture of European, Asian, black and Hispanic traits, and the only difference is that the American people have used those people’s cultures for their own benefit. We are all people with the same fears and same goals. If two people lose their jobs, their reactions would be exactly the same. So what makes us so different?

Unfortunately, again, I will bring in the discussion of the 2016 presidential race and my disdain for Donald Trump; but I will focus on his supporters and his rallies. We see videos and pictures of violence that happen at these events. Why? Why does an old man punch a black man for peacefully protesting? I have never seen so much hate in one area, and it is because the people need their opinions to be the supreme in the country. Trump does not help this, but only fuels this because he knows how to manipulate the people. He uses possibilities such as rapists coming from Mexico and people from China taking our jobs to make them afraid of Hispanics or people from Asia. In reality, these people at said rallies have no knowledge of people from those areas of the world, which is why Trump starts putting these things into their brains. Those insulting statements become the only thought they have on those people, which lead to the xenophobia in our country. We need to educate everyone to show that those people are not rapists and not here to steal our jobs.

The fact that possible leaders in this country are using fear to get votes is embarrassing. As citizens, we should look out for each other and know that fellow citizens are not the problem. Instead of using fighting over our differences, we should accept them because someone else’s decisions should not affect us. Gay people existing will not ruin my future marriage. Women getting abortions does not affect me because I am a man, and it is a woman’s decision. We will always have differences, but we should pride ourselves on them because that is what makes America what it is. You can keep your values close to you, but hating another’s values does not do anything for your own. It simply oppresses the other person. There is hate in this country, but our common similarities should bring us together as one.