Social issues may not be as pressing or impactful as other areas of political discussion, such as the economy or international relations, but there's no doubt that they garner the most passion from Americans. Both good passion and bad passion.
Ever since it became official that Donald Trump would be the 45th president of the United States, America has turned into a battleground. The Democrats are clogging the streets in protest and, oftentimes, the protests evolve into riots. Such events were more scattered and less frequent during the election's early days compared to what we have now. I imagine it would be far from easy to sleep in the cities where angry Americans are marching through the streets chanting their disapproval of the president-elect. Civil unrest is the new normal.
Yet, there's also the other side: the side that won. The Republican Party is now the most powerful party in Washington. However, recent news stories have shown that the party has a few wrinkles. A few hateful, racist wrinkles. Donald Trump didn't create those wrinkles; he connected with the ones that already existed like no politician has for decades. He gave them hope. While I continue to believe that Donald Trump did not intend on bringing racism back to the political atmosphere, it remains the truth that the corpse of America's true racism has been shocked back to life, and, right now, it's partying. I speak not of the Republican Party as a whole, nor as a majority, nor even as a significantly-sized minority. I speak of the scattered-and-hidden racists in America who, because they believe their president-elect stands for their hateful desires, now feel that they have a free pass to do whatever they want. The Internet has been filling up with news stories detailing acts of racism and Islamophobia across America like a container of Jiffy Pop burning over a hot stove made of hatred.
Stories of Muslim women having their hijabs ripped off their heads by random people. Stories of students at high schools calling black students "cotton pickers." Images of graffiti popping up around the country, depicting racist phrases, such as "Make America White Again" paired with a swastika written on the wall of a softball dugout in Wellsville, New York. These acts of hate are all happening in alarming numbers across America, obviously coinciding with Donald Trump's election victory.
I am a Republican, and I'm not ashamed to say it. Conservatism runs though my veins. I make it clear in all my articles. But, the Republican Party has a major image-problem, partially because the mainstream media indulges in ripping the Republican Party apart, but also because racist people, like the ones who committed these hate crimes, give the MSM so much material to use against us. No Republican likes to admit it, but there are a lot of people within our party that truly are racist. The only thing that upsets me more than someone I perceive as a "Republican-hating, bigoted liberal" is a Republican who not only spoils my party's image, but truly damages the fabric of America. It gets to the point where I don't care about Republican-Democrat disagreements anymore. This transcends that. This is about good and evil.
To the people out there committing these crimes: whether you're an old white guy who mentally associates black people with criminal activity and now has no problem being blatantly racist toward them, or you're a student at a high school that doesn't mean the horrible things he's saying but says them anyway because he thinks they're funny; no matter who you are, stop it now. What you're engaging in is one of America's deepest shames. An enormous amount of America's minorities are past the stage of "upset" when it comes to Trump's win. They are terrified for their lives. They believe that America has just entered an era characterized primarily by a deep hatred and hostility toward people like themselves. They no longer feel safe. Muslim mothers are texting their daughters while they're at school to remind them not to wear their hijabs anymore, because they could be in danger if the wrong person sees a Muslim. They are choking back tears as they tell them that Allah will forgive them if they remove their hijabs. And, it's not just Muslims. It's every non-white race, every non-Christian religion, the LGBT community, and even a number of white women who are terrified for the direction of this country, and what it means for themselves specifically. It is up to us, the people who make America what it is, to make sure they feel safe. It is up to us to give them love. Whether you believe this country is headed in a good direction or not, an enormous number, possibly the majority, of non-straight-white-Christian-males in America are now walking through life in a state of inner-panic. A toxic blend of chaos and fear currently reigns supreme and acts of racism only make it stronger.
The Democratic Party is doing all it can to end racism. Unfortunately, they're only dividing us further by trying to paint all white people as racists and, thus, creating the civil unrest that is screaming in hordes in the streets of America's major cities. If we, the Republican Party, took a look at ourselves and the people within our party, and started making an effort to fight the racism that exists within those walls, we can be on our way to finally ending racism in America. It won't be easy, but that's what needs to be done, because the divisive fight of the Democrats simply isn't working. The fight to end racism requires unity. A better America for everyone awaits us, but unless we all come together, it will remain a fantasy.
So, now is not the time for "Build a wall" jokes, sarcastic or not. Now is the time for love and support. If you think there's something wrong with that, you may be part of the reason why America is continuing to become further and further divided.
