Well, America has spoken. The election of 2016 is over. The votes have been tallied, Facebook statuses have been made, articles like this one have been written, and tons and tons of tears have been shed, on both sides of the aisle.
Congratulations to Donald Trump on his win. And congratulations to everyone who supported him and voted for him, and even to those who didn't vote at all or voted for someone who was not Hillary Clinton. I sure hope you know what you voted for and are prepared for what the next four years could potentially bring because God knows I sure am not.
I am not ready to feel the wrath of the Donald. I am not ready to live in a country where everything Donald promised during his campaign is implemented. A country where a bully who singles out the LGBTQ community, women, people with disabilities, immigrants, minorities and many others is someone who is my Commander in Chief. While I know we are all on the same team, as President Obama eloquently stated in his speech following Donald's win, I do not feel that Donald is my president. I do not feel I can get behind a man with literally no experience. A man who is an openly misogynistic, sexist, racist, homophobic, lying, bigot.
For a second, I would like to put everything Donald has said aside and focus on his actual experiences and policies or lack thereof. One of the most appalling parts of this election is that Hillary Clinton has been coined several times as the most qualified person for the job of President of the United States. She was by no means a perfect candidate who ran a perfect campaign, and she is far from a perfect person or politician, but she is a politician with tons of experience. She has literally given her entire adult life to helping others and fighting for equality. There are many reasons that people have proposed she did not win, but as a woman, all I can think about is the fact that she did not win because she is a she.
It scares the hell out of me that there are some people in this country who are simply not ready for a woman to be president. There are people who would rather Donald be in office even if it means sacrificing the rights of women and minorities, they would do anything to keep women out. It breaks my heart to think of little girls wondering why a woman has never been president and how Donald could possibly win. It saddens me that my first time voting in a presidential election led to such an unfavorable outcomes.
But while I am incredibly discouraged, I am not yet defeated. I am not ready to give up as love will always Trump hate. Donald may appoint Justices who overturn Roe V. Wade or abolish gay marriage. Women may continue to make 80 cents for every man's dollar, or the pay gap may get worse. A number of inconceivable things may happen, but we must keep fighting. We also must stand united, as divided nothing will get done. As a woman between the ages of 18-25, I know my future looks bright, and I will not let white men keep me from reaching my potential and achieving whatever I set my mind on doing. My parents raised me to know I am capable of anything, I don't plan of proving them wrong anytime soon.
