Last week, I sat up into the early hours of the morning trying to wrap my head around the 2016 U.S. Presidential Election. It made me furious. It made me disappointed. It made me sad. It made me scared. As the week went on and I shared these views, people told me to "just get over it," "accept it and moved on," "let's see what happens." I was even told to "take a deep breath." But how could I when I knew people who had panic attacks and were sobbing? People who were, quite literally, left breathless? If I had been less informed, less inclined to research the candidates and what they stood for and promised, then yes, I could just get over it. But that is not the kind of person I am.
For the first time in my life, I was going to be old enough to vote in the U.S. Presidential Election. As soon as the people started throwing their hats in the ring, I began to research them. Who were they, where did they come from, what were their qualifications, what kind of platform were they setting up? How could I not inform myself? I'm in my second year of college and already have two political science classes under my belt. This was the time to be active, to ask questions, to read and watch the news, to try to find the facts and not the opinions.
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Yet, I saw many other people - adults - spreading lies. They shared articles from websites that were clearly just opinion and fantastical rumors. Web sites run by people who enjoy spreading misinformation in the hopes that others will too. People who enjoy spreading fear. I tried to counter these articles with credible sources and by engaging these people in conversations. Instead, my friends and family began showing a side of themselves I never thought possible. One of my most favorite people in the world turned out to be a complete stranger.
This is not an article criticizing Mr. Trump, per se, but more of a comment on our nation as a whole in regards to the decision they made in electing Mr. Trump. I was vehemently against his tactics and his frightening rhetoric while on the campaign trail. What scares me is that I am not sure how many people have looked into his platform, specifically his 100 Day Plan. That plan terrifies me.
What people liked about Mr. Trump was his unexpected attitudes and his informal way of speaking. I understand that that really drew people to him. But what I found repelling was the way in which he chose to speak. He chose to use vulgar, sometimes hateful, words when talking about women, immigrants, refugees, the LGBTQ community, those who were of a different race, ethnicity, and religion, and those who are dis or differently-abled. He spoke like a racist, misogynist, xenophobist, etc. He did so in public and on national television. It was awful to hear such talk. What was most upsetting was that because he used a national stage to do so, he made others feel that it was acceptable to do the same.
"He says what everyone is thinking." Did anyone see a problem with that statement? I would be lying if I said I had never thought a bad thought. But I stop myself from saying damaging words either because it is not the time or place or because I've taken a step back and thought, wow, that is an awful way to think, maybe I should change. Mr. Trump said whatever he thought, without the barrier of a conscience. Mr. Trump's rhetoric gave people the confidence to voice their offensive, hurtful words that they otherwise would not have uttered because you just don't say those kinds of things. It gave people the confidence to act on their thoughts with the knowledge that there was no consequence, because for all that has been come out about Mr. Trump, not much has affected him. There lies my problem. As a nation, we thought it was okay to elect someone who did nothing but bash people from every background. If we met someone on the street who spoke as Mr. Trump did, we would immediately turn the other way and say "can you believe this guy?"
If our country has decided that the way Mr. Trump ran his campaign is okay, then what kind of precedent does that set for us? It felt like taking a giant step back from all the progress this country has made in the way of human rights.
But yes, I am trying to get over it. I am not sure that I can, but I am willing to hold out hope that will be pleasantly surprised by Mr. Trump. Stranger things have happened, right?
