As the hype of the election begins to die down, I have come to realize there is only one thing scarier than the political circus this election was: the American people.

What makes America already great is that we all have the right to feel, believe, speak and react the way we want. These freedoms are something we severely take for granted and should be thankful for everyday. That being said, it has blown my mind to see how many people have tried to take away these freedoms from others in the wake of this election.

People are everything from distraught and angry all the way to happy and excited with the results of this Presidential election and no matter where you fall on that spectrum, no one can tell you what you're feeling is wrong. You can sit and start Facebook, Twitter, etc. fights all you want about who you think is right, but at the end of the day it is not any of our places to decide how any human being gets to feel. It is one of our basic, intrinsic rights to be able to have and deal with our emotions the healthiest way we feel is best for our own self.

I am saddened as an American citizen that this is what it has come to. While I would have been disappointed no matter who was elected in, at no point does that mean I begin to hate and bash anyone who is excited or anyone else who is disappointed. Just because someone feels that Donald Trump doesn't align with their values, beliefs or properly represent them, that does not mean you tell them that you'll pack their bags for them. You tell them that you respectfully disagree with them and wish them the best. Likewise, just because someone feels that Hillary Clinton doesn't align with their values, beliefs or properly represent them, that does not mean you have the right to call them names. You tell them that you respectfully disagree with them and wish them the best.

For those who support Trump: it is okay for someone to be upset, angry or even scared for what his Presidency means. We have never had a President like him, for better or for worse, and anyone who did not want him to be president is justified in those feelings. Why? Because all of the freedoms Trump and his supporters preached during the election give them the right to feel that way and vocalize how they feel without you attacking them. For those who support Clinton: it is also okay for someone to be happy, excited and celebrating that their candidate won. Had Clinton won the election, you would feel the same way and want to bask in your victory.

However, you don't get to use your freedoms to be hurtful to others who differ from you. You do not get to abuse your freedom of speech to be homophobic, racist, sexist and downright degrade others. We are a country built on the ideas of equality for everyone, no matter what their race, religion, sex, sexuality or anything else that may separate them for you. We are a country built on recognizing our privilege; and whether you like it or not, some groups have it more than others; and being grateful that we have those privileges because so many people do not. You do not have to like someone or agree with them, but to abuse your right to speech to hurt others makes you the ultimate Anti-American. Our country was founded on being able to live our lives as unique individuals and the reaction this election has elicited goes against that very principle.

Now more than ever it is important to use your voice not only to continue to stand by all the things you believe in just as loudly, if not louder, as you did during the election, but to use your voice to give love to everyone. We have become too separated as a country and this election has only worsened that divide. After all the tragedy in this past year alone that this country has been through, we should be pulling together and standing united.

Hate is what got us into this sickening election in the first place and the only way to combat hate is with love. Love those who disagree with you, love those who agree with you and love those who you might not even know. With love we can truly find what it means to be an American once again.