"Let us not seek the republican answer or the democratic answer, but the right answer. Let us not seek to fix the blame for the past; let us accept our own responsibility for the future." - John F. Kennedy

Recently, the country has divided over which candidate they supported for the presidential election. After Election Day, the country started having protests, riots and fighting. People argued with lifelong friends because of different opinions. People turned on classmates, family members, and co-workers all because their opinions differed. We are all Americans. As Americans, we have the right to form our own opinions and voice them, a right that many people around the world do not have. Protect and respect that right that we all have; so many people in other countries wish they had the right to voice their own opinion. We should not let this election tear us apart. A difference of choice of presidential candidate does not make the person you know and love any different than they were before. Instead of letting this election tear us apart, there are ways we can come together as Americans and take care of one another. Ever since the results were announced, I have seen overwhelming amounts of hate coming from supporters of both political parties. I have seen friendships ruined, family members fighting, and people turn their backs on one another.

"America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves." - Abraham Lincoln

If we continue to turn on each other and spew hate from both sides, we will destroy ourselves. We will be the downfall of this nation. Be the change you want to see in this nation and in this world. If we want this nation to be great, we need to act that way. We need to always stand by our country and our citizens. In this day and age, the whole world needs less hate and more love and kindness.

Be a good friend, listen more to people, tell people how much they mean to you. Smile at a stranger walking down the street, ask the cashier at the store how their day is going, or pay for the person behind you in line. Be encouraging to one another and love unconditionally. We take the little things in life for granted and often forget just how much a small, random act of kindness can mean to someone. In this time of division, we need kindness more than anything. We are more than a political party. We are more than Republicans, Democrats, or Libertarians. We are all citizens of the United States of America. We are the land of the free. Do not let a presidential election divide us. We all are here working towards living the American Dream. We must learn to coexist and allow everyone to live their very own American Dream. We are all entitled to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.