DISCLAIMER: this is not an article supporting any candidate, I do not intend to reveal my affiliated party

Regarding this past presidential election, the United States of America is severely f***ed. Most would attribute America’s downfall to the new Mr. President Donald J. Trump, but even if Hillary were in the White House the U.S. would have been screwed either way and here’s why.

The day after the election results was announced, I logged onto Facebook in the morning only to be shocked by some of the most hateful and disgusting comments I have ever read. My friends, people who I love and support, are writing about how Trump is a “sexist bigot who will infringe upon and take away our rights if you are a woman, LGBTQ, Hispanic, a minority, etc.” and how, “If you voted for Trump, know you voted for hate, racism, and sexual abuse and unfriend me.” Trust me, I know what Trump has said, but no matter what he has said in the past, we are now living in the present where this man is the 45^th president of the United States. Whether the people like it or not, (people seem to HATE it) we the people voted him into office. But this is the problem, this is why America is truly screwed, there is SO much hate being bred by both people who do not support Trump and by people who voted him. Now, I’m not saying to go support the buffoon, but stop criticizing and spewing hatred to those who made their choice. We as a country are divided, and as a divided country the people cannot do their duty to make checks and balances on the president. It is our job as the people to check our new president, NEVER forget this is a democracy, not a dictatorship. REMEMBER the President of the United States works for us, the people! We pay HIM to produce policies to benefit our lives and our nation. This one man cannot just strip away our rights unless WE LET HIM. As a divided country so full of hate, our worst fear of having our rights we fought so hard for be stripped away, is a reality.

I realize that Trump is the one who has spread this hateful, almost mob-like, violent mindset with his words. I believe in my heart that words have power. It is the individual that gives these words power by listening to them and translating words into action. The Trump supporters who are attacking people, that is because they have taken his words to heart. The protesters who stand outside Trump’s buildings and burn the American flag, they have taken Trump’s words and threats to heart. To me, he is a wild card, who knows if he will follow through on his promises…. I understand that people are being proactive and protecting their rights but again, he is one man and cannot just take away our rights with the flick of his wrist. I just feel this country is split into two extremes, best said by a friend of mine named Brittni, “I missed the memo after the election that you either had to choose to riot and go crazy or become a member of the KKK.” Obviously, what she said is meant to be exaggerated, but I feel that is what this country could come to these extremes if this hateful, paranoid mindset continues. Nothing about the violence that has taken place is right, this whole election just hasn’t been right. Where is the redo button because if I feel if Clinton would have won there would be protests and maybe less violence but a similar reaction nonetheless.

“No matter what happens, the sun will rise in the morning.” This quote said by Barack Obama reigns true. No matter who you voted for, Harmabe, Trump, Hillary, or third party, the sun will rise in the morning. No matter what Trump and his supporters do, the sun will rise in the morning. No matter how many protests and flags are burned, the sun will rise in the morning. It is up to the people of America to get their shit together and respect one another no matter who you voted for, no matter the color of your skin, no matter whether you were born in this country or not. It is up to Americans as a unit to drive this country forward and continue to thrive without the hate.