Dear America,

I can not tell you how stressed my family and I are right now. The last time I felt this way was when I was waiting for my college application results to come out. But now, I’m waiting for the results of what has been a very hate-filled, turbulent, painful, and sad election. However, throughout these two years, my fear for this election was never the election itself, but for what’s to come when it’s over. The candidates aren’t scary, the people are.

You see, whether Trump or Hillary wins won’t change the fact that our country has become more divided than ever. When I was talking to my coworkers about the elections, we realized that our country has been set back to about 50 years. I remember the grief that lingered in the air, the tension, when everyone kind of put their heads down and began thinking about what was to come. They knew that whatever the results of this election, the struggles aren’t ending anytime soon.

I have close friends that are voting for both Trump and Hillary, and to be completely honest, it really doesn’t matter who you vote for, because if the heart and soul of this country is sick, the face will be the last thing that matters. Forget about who will win the elections, forget about all the insults we’ve thrown at each other, forget about the things that divide us and let’s start finding some common ground. And I’m not saying that I know the answers to anything, but if we don’t start forgiving each other, and don’t start accepting the fact that we live in a country where people have different ideals and begin turning on each other instead, then what good is this system of ours which teaches us to hear what other people have to say and respect each other’s beliefs?

The last thing our already problematic world needs, is its greatest country in the world to turn on itself. We are all neighbors here, and we are obliged to respect each other’s opinions.That’s what makes this country so great after all isn’t it? Vote as a Democrat, Republican, Conservative, whatever you want to support. But please, let’s all come out of this election as Americans.

Sincerely,

Ahsanul Abeer