Donald Trump,

I am not a Democrat or a Republican, I am an Independent. I do not feel like I fall into either party 100 percent and I often find myself struggling between who to vote for. I did not struggle with that this election.

I am going to be honest with you - I did not vote for you to be president. However, you have won and soon you will be stepping into that role. You have big shoes to fill and are about to be hit with a lot of responsibility.

When I first saw the results of the election, I can't really explain the emotions that I felt. Shock. Anger. Sadness. Shame. But now that I have had time to really think about everything, I've decided that the best thing I can do is to move forward.

I am no politician, nor do I claim to be an expert in politics. I think that you bring an interesting perspective, and potentially a perspective that could prove to be very beneficial for the United States when it comes to our economy. Beyond the economy, I am not so sure.

You are going to be the next president and I accept that. However, acceptance and faith are two very different things. I can't put my faith into you yet and here's why:

1. I am scared for my friends.

I am scared that because they love differently than me, have a different skin color than me, or have different religious beliefs than me that they may be treated as though they are wrong...as though they do not have the same equal human rights that I do. We all have different beliefs - it's our differences that make America great. People shouldn't be defined by the categories that we choose to put them in. We are all human before we are anything else. Obergefell vs. Hodges was a huge step forward in equal rights, and many feel that we have just taken many steps back. Can I put my faith in you to prove otherwise and to accept them like I am trying to accept you?

2. You don't believe in climate change.

According to your 100 day plan, you want to cut the funding for climate change. Are you aware that the amount of carbon dioxide in the air is higher than it has ever been in the last 650,000 years? The average sea level is expected to rise up to four feet higher than it currently is before the end of the century. The current pace of global temperatures is putting approximately 25-30 percent of plant and animal species at a risk for extinction. The Glacier National Park is expected to eventually lose all of its glaciers. The scariest part of all this? The United States is the second largest contributor to CO2 in our atmosphere. Climate change is very real, it is happening now, and if we don't do something about it, our planet will be destroyed. This isn't just about us, it's about future generations. Can I put my faith in you to look out for our planet and for our future generations?

(source: nwf.org)

3. As a woman, I don't feel respected.

You have made a lot of comments toward and about women that make me feel very uncomfortable (to put it lightly). I feel as though I am viewed as nothing more than an object. And I am definitely not someone that will just accept your "advances" because you are famous. I am aware that you said some of these things several years ago and that you claim that no one has more respect for women than you, but I am struggling to see evidence of that. Furthermore, you want to control my reproductive rights. To me, this is extremely violating. While I understand, and support, some of the arguments of pro-life, I do not think anyone should have control over a woman's body other than the woman herself. Can I put my faith in you to consider my rights as a woman?

I am not writing this to bash you, to throw hate at you or your supporters, or to "whine" about the results of the election. I am writing this because I feel like everyone deserves to voice their opinion on what is happening in our country.

The hate that has consumed our country for the past couple of months, and especially after the election results, is appalling. People are hurt, people are scared, and people feel forgotten/unwanted. As future president, it will be your responsibility to bring us back together. Can I put my faith in you to do that?

Sincerely,

A Concerned Independent