Wednesday morning, November 9, 2016, around 2:30am, the results were in. We found out who would take President Barack Obama’s place in the White House for the next four years. With the results came chaos.

What were those results that sent America into a downward spiral? Donald Trump was going to be the next President of the United States of America.

This was heartbreaking for many. They did not want a sexist, racist, bigot to be our new President. They say that America is now screwed. They say that under this new Presidency we are screwed.

Is this true? Are we as Americans screwed? I believe that yes, we are. But not just because of who will be the head of our country. Not because Hillary Clinton lost. Not because in just a few months we will no longer have the amazing Barack Obama as our president. It is because we are now all turning on each other. We are starting a verbal civil war with one another. This presidential election has torn us apart even more than we were already. I did not want Trump to win myself, but neither of the candidates were the greatest picks in the pumpkin patch, now were they? The thing is, Trump won. It happened. Sadly, there is nothing we can do about it now. Bashing each other and telling each other we have majorly “fucked up our country” is not the way to handle the situation.

Telling third party voters that it is their fault, and that they were stupid for voting for a third party, knowing that they had no chance at winning is wrong. Well, they were using their RIGHT to vote for whoever they wanted to vote for, and amidst the choices, they felt that the third party would best represent our country, the best to follow what they believed in. Did you know that if a third party gets 5% of the votes in an election, they get funding for the upcoming election? Maybe that is why some people voted for a third party. So, don’t bash them for following their beliefs.

Telling Clinton supporters that they are out of luck because their candidate didn’t get elected is wrong. Don’t you think that them losing broke their hearts enough? Now they say they are scared. Scared for what the future holds for us under Trump as president. Scared for their LGBT+ friends. Scared for their Muslim friends. Scared for their Hispanic friends. Scared for their children to grow up in this country. For people to bash them and tell them to get over it, what’s done is done, that is not okay. For people to say what they believe Clinton would have done right for our country is their freedom of speech. Yes, it is yours to also respond and say you think they’re wrong, but there is no reason to make it an argument. Because of Clinton losing, women across America are hurt, immigrants that have fought to be here are hurt, members of the LGBT+ community are hurt. Same sex marriage was finally legalized last year, and now those couples fear it all turning back against them. As much of a celebration it is for Trump supporters, still try not to turn against Clinton supporters, because that will tear our country apart. Same with Clinton supporters. Have your differences with Trump supporters and dislike them if you want, but don’t tell them they are wrong for supporting him and using their right to vote for him. Don’t break them down. It will also tear our country apart.

Telling Trump supporters that they are the reason for the downfall of our country is wrong. Yes, they voted for him. Yes, they campaigned for him. Yes, they succeeded in getting him in office. But does that mean that they are all racist and sexist just because Trump is? Does that mean they don’t like members of the LGBT+ community? Does that mean that they want everyone deported? You honestly don’t know. In most cases, yes, this may be true, and that saddens me that we still have not gotten past times of discrimination, but, some people supported Trump for different reasons. I personally have friends and family that voted for Trump, and they are the furthest thing from all those cases. They didn’t vote for him to see people deported, or to see women belittled, or to see people feel less than what they are. They voted for him because they agreed with his plans for the economy. Some are Christians against abortion like Trump was. Some like his ideas for the education. Some like the Supreme Court Justice he plans on appointing. Some like that he defends our second amendment, our right to bear arms. There are many reasons why people supported him. As a country, we have fought for everyone’s right to vote for who they want elected, so we cannot bring down those for voting for who they thought would benefit them the most.

Telling those who chose not to vote that they are stupid for not exercising the right to vote is wrong. They had to have their reasons for not voting. Even if it is a stupid excuse, it is THEIR choice. Not yours. You telling them that what they chose is wrong is your opinion. You trying to coerce them to change their mind before the election is like taking away their freedom. They may have the right to vote, but they also have the right NOT to vote, and if that is what they choose, then oh well. Chances are if they did vote, it wouldn’t be in your favor anyway.

For Trump supporters saying they want to “Make America Great Again,” being rude to others will not lead our country to greatness. Discriminating will not lead us to greatness. Singling out minority groups will not lead to greatness. Building a wall will not lead to greatness. Us coming together as a country and putting hate behind us is what will lead us to greatness. Just try to keep that in mind.

To anti- Trump Americans, since the election, I have seen so much hate towards our country. There are people saying that they refuse to stand for the National Anthem as long as Trump is President. This is not showing rebellion against Trump. This is not showing that you want our country to be better. This is showing that you don’t love your country. This is showing that you do not respect America. This is showing that you do not support those that fought many years for our freedom in wars. If your reasoning for not liking Trump is because you think he is going to ruin our country, don’t go about handling it the wrong way. You refusing to stand up for the National Anthem is being hypocritical, because that is not making our country better. You tearing others down for their political views and how they voted is what is screwing America over. Trump being elected may have led to this behavior, but he is NOT the only reason America is going to go downhill. Trump will not be our downfall. We ourselves will be our downfall. Us belittling each other, bashing each other, and hating each other is going to be why our country gets screwed.

So, is America screwed? Yes, maybe it is, but it is because we are attacking each other, not because we made the wrong decision in President.