Whether you voted for Trump, for Hillary, for a 3rd party or simply did not vote at all, I am here to tell you that I respect your decision, and will never label your opinions as an act of hatred or stupidity. In regard to the election this past week, I think we can all agree on one thing—it sucked. Picking between a "liar," or a “racist,” is not an easy decision to make which is why I was planning not to vote until it got down to crunch time and, as a resident of Florida, I realized how much of an impact my state was going to have on the election.
This is not another article where I will express to you why or why not I think Donald Trump is fit to be president. That is not the main issue I see in our country right now. Any educated person understands that the president is truly nothing on his own, and depends on his supporters and other members of the government. The change we so desperately need begins in the heart and soul of every individual American citizen. This change needs to happen within us, within our homes, within our families, within our individual communities. So whether you have spent this last week celebrating in pride, or crying in devastation, please realize that it begins with you. Instead of posting mindless Facebook conversations that accomplish nothing but hate and the loss of friends, go out and do something about the change you want. Instead of blaming those around you, take a minute to look at what you have done for your country. Instead of calling out your friends and family for their vote, take a minute to look at things from their point of view. This country was created and founded upon beliefs so much greater than a two-party system. Stop letting the political views of others get in the way of what really matters in life. At the end of the day, the main problem in our country is the lack of understanding and acceptance.
The election is over now. So go ahead and keep telling people, “He’s not my president,” if you want to live in a state of denial for the next four years. If you want to see a country divided, keep telling people, “He’s not my president.” The truth is, he IS your president, and leaving for Canada is not as easy as you thought. So you’re stuck here and stuck with him.
Why not make some good of the next four years? Why not use this time to make history of your own? This is an age of opportunity and change. Use this time to allow positivity into your life because it’s happening whether you like it or not. I urge you to hold back any negative words and actions the next time you are outraged by the opinion of your neighbor. I urge you to take a step back and see things from their perspective, and above all else, I urge you to educate yourself on these matters before you speak out of hate and anger. The media feeds off our drama and the divided country that we have become. My Facebook feed is filled with shared articles from ridiculous sources with no legitimate facts or information.
Stop feeding into the lies of those who wish to pull our country further apart and do some research. Through education comes an open mind, and that open mind will allow us to understand each other and respect each other the way any human being deserves. This is not an article of hate. This is not an article about politics. This is not an article where I am attempting to prove my side. This is an article simply reminding everyone that no matter who you are or what you believe in (as long as it does not violate any human rights), you deserve respect. We all have to stick together no matter what.
