On election night, I stayed up later than usual to keep tabs on CNN for the results. As Hillary's projected electoral votes began to become stagnant in relation to Trump's, I began to lose hope early on; I stopped paying attention to social media and tried to sleep. However, I woke up in the wee hours of the morning to the news that Trump was the projected winner of the presidential election. I cried. However, I was not the only one. I saw pictures and videos in the news of people and celebrities all over America sobbing and even Hillary's supporters leaving her headquarters in tears. That broke my heart even more. While it is okay for Trump supporters to rejoice in his victory, I feel it is important to understand why we cry in fear when faced with the reality of Trump's ascension into the White House and the ultimate position of power in America.
Say what you will about Donald Trump, admire and praise him for whatever he has done or whatever he plans to do for America, but I believe those of us who rightfully mourn Hillary's loss see Trump for who he really is. When you lay the man bare and look beyond his victory, his frame is riddled in scandal, cockiness and the worst aspect of all: human ignorance. The worst part is that he is entirely unapologetic. This article was not written with the intention to bash Trump because there is no longer a point in doing so. The idea of his presidency is no longer a joke therefore, I only wish to capture in words the dread many of us now feel since it has been made a reality. I can applaud Donald Trump purely on the premise that he will be the first president who made into the White House by singlehandily preying on the ignorance of American people by vocalizing their unspoken fears for support and offering a flawed solution. He is also the first politician to show unabashedly who he really is, even the ugly parts. However, seeing as his ugly parts are truly ugly, the admiration can only extend so far. While Hillary is not perfect either, she was the best choice for America in such a critical manner, and I don't expect any Trump supporters to be able to understand that. There was more at stake than just a presidency.
So, to my friends or anyone who did support Trump during this election, you made the wrong decision. However, I believe we all should accept them because we cannot blame or hate them for the error in their humanity. Nor is it anyone's business to even tell who you voted for. Although many of you did not vote in support of many of the ignorant, racist, egotistical and money loving values that Trump holds, you did help uphold them indirectly. But we should understand and accept those people because their decision to elect Trump will not affect them and they did not stop and think of their friends and even family. LGBT Americans, colorful Americans, Muslim Americans and women in general in America should feel frightened and we all have a right to cry. That is why I cried.
On November 8, Donald Trump did not win. Ignorance won. Homophobia won. Sexism won. Close-minded religious Conservatism won. Racism won. And the unspoken fears formally hidden behind closed doors of American homes won. That is why even the KKK now rejoices in honor of Trump, who has not rejected their glaring support. However, to my Trump Supporters again, I don't expect you to understand this article. Many of you have been hidden behind the blanket of white privilege and sheltered under Christianity and nothing I can say will remedy that because you have never been in been in my skin or that of others different from you.
You have never been met with a face of surprise because you're black and you made it to a flagship institution without a toddler in tow. You have never been discriminated against in the dating world because being black or asian or whatever somehow makes you a different type of human. You have never looked into eyes of pure disgust simply because you were born in the wrong body, and have found the courage to publicly make it your own. You have never been looked upon in fear and pure scorn because you wear your hijab in public. You have never walked out of an abortion clinic into the face of protestors and ridiculed for simply your right to choose, when it is no one's right to judge anyway. You, as a woman, have never been dumbed down, indirectly or to your face, to nothing but a sexual being.
Despite this, I believe we should all accept Trump supporters as friends or family because we must accept all that we cannot change. I can only hope that the blanket will be lifted entirely from future generations. And we should all try to love and protect those who can no longer rely on those who govern us to shield them from ignorance and harm.
