Earlier before the election, I wrote an article about how Donald Trump couldn't "Make America Great Again" because we were already great. However, it appears the rest of the country didn't agree.
Since election night, stories upon stories have been coming out about radical Trump supporters using racial slurs, attacking minorities, and causing most of the general public to feel uncomfortable. Muslim women are having their hijabs ripped off their heads, the n-word is being etched into walls and graffitied onto desks and bathroom stalls. Immigrants, and those who aren't white, are being handed fake deportation letters and being told to go back where they came from. The LGBTQ+ community is anxiously awaiting the legislative strike, while staying strong against the awful names being hurled at them.
And, while the only minority group I belong to is due to me being a woman, I still feel a huge amount of pain, and fear for those who are being persecuted because of who they are. This campaign, and the rhetoric used on it, made it very clear that it's not the economy or fear about international issues that some people are worried about, but losing their privileges. At the heart of everything Trump spoke about, the wall, immigration and restricting the rights of others were alive and thriving. This is not the United States that I'm proud to belong, nor is it the part of humanity that I want to be a part of.
However, despite all the fear and pain, there has also been resilience and unification. Seeing the protests, people taking more interest in their government, and more importantly, to see people recognizing that something isn't right and then coming together to protect the communities that are being attacked; that is what the U.S is all about. Issues such as racism, sexism, homophobia, bigotry, problems that have been continually written off as being not relevant enough, or "on the way out" are being identified. People are opening their eyes, and beginning to pay attention.
It's important to remember that not every Trump supporter is crazy and awful; it's also important to remember that, unless the Electoral College votes against the states, Donald Trump is the President of U.S. And while it seriously pained me to write that, it's true.
What's also true is that this nation was built on the ideas of personal freedoms; we've proven ourselves to be resilient and brave, and far more than capable of handling hard situations. So, while I'll be hoping that somehow Trump won't be as awful as we're all imagining he will be, I'm preparing for when he will be.
There's no shame in accepting something is what it is, but there's no need to become powerless and voiceless. Write to your congresswoman or congressman, let them know that you're unhappy and they'll need your vote before Trump does. Hold rallies and community meetings; sit by someone who looks like they need an ally. Get educated, hold others and yourself accountable for their/your actions. Be strong, stand together, be the change, and be the light in the darkness.
