It's safe to say that the 2016 election results have left many U.S. citizens enraged and highly disappointed. Upon hearing that Donald Trump would become the 45th President of the United States, many individuals took to protests and slandering social media posts. And while I will admit I'm not the biggest Trump supporter, I will not be taking part in the actions other people wish to pursue. And why should anyone? Despite our opinions on a person, why would we wish the worst for this country, rather than wish for its best? If we love our country, which I myself am proud to say I do, now is not the time to give up, but rather to withstand from the hatred, and hope that our country's future will be bright. So here is my reasoning behind why I will not give up on America:
1. One person does not have the power to change absolutely everything, even if he or she does hold the title of President of the United States.
While the President does have a series of powers granted to them by the U.S. Constitution, they don't have nearly enough power as some people may think. Congress essentially holds a large majority of power in relation to the President. Congress is responsible for acting as our lawmakers. So for those individuals who are worried about policy, they shouldn't be placing there worries upon who the President is anyway.
2. There will still always be others looking out for us.
Though Barrack Obama won't remain in office, he will still be doing good for this country. Obama plans to continue being an activist even after his term in office ends, and this is a path that not many presidents have chosen to take. He has commented that he plans to be involved with criminal justice reform, immigration, race relations, gun control, basically anything that was encountered during his time as President.
We also still have our Democratic favorite, Bernie Sanders, who I swear will continue being a voice for the public until the day he dies. Sanders is one man who embodies America as a whole and genuinely wants the best for each and every one of its America citizens. Having people like this in our country who do truly have good intentions, makes me feel more safe and secure in the place I call home.
3. The future is uncertain, not set in stone. Anything can happen, and positive changes can arise.
Whether we are okay with the fact that Donald Trump is our next president or not, it doesn't mean the world is going to end within the next day or two. We need to stop worrying about this and instead realize that the future can hold many possibilities. No one can predict what is going to happen, and rather than hanging on to negativity, we should be focusing on positivity.
4. This is my home. I will have faith in the place I grew up, and I will keep hanging on to this.
As much as I myself joke about moving to Canada and becoming a Canadian citizen, I know this is something i'll never do, at least not at this point in time. During the past few days, I've had time to reflect and I've realized that why would I abandon the place that's been my home my entire life. Why would I consider packing a suitcase and leaving my family and friends, my whole life, just because an election didn't go in my favor? Why would I be such a pessimist? Frankly, why would I give up on the place I call home...
You see, no matter how we wanted the election to turn out, we can't just walk away when things don't go our way. We need to have faith that things will work out, that our country will still thrive as it always has. And if it doesn't, then we can aim to help this movement. We are U.S. citizens, and this is our home, and I don't know about you, but I'm not quite ready to leave it yet.