I’m not a Democrat.

I’m not a Republican.

I’m not a Libertarian.

I’m American.

I hate politics. I love hot dogs.

I hate war. I love reality television.

These are pretty common things in America. Another thing that is pretty common right now are Facebook fights, protests, and dissolving friendships. I rarely discuss my thoughts on politics with anyone, I’ll post some viral videos on my Facebook every once in a while. I’ll usually like things from all parties. I like to stay away from it, though. I see my friends and family on social media being attacked or attacking each other. Social media is a great platform to get your point across but it’s not there to be a tool to degrade one another.

Donald Trump has won the election. He is now the POTUS. There’s no disputing that. It’s a fact. Though for many it’s a tragedy for others it’s a glimmer of hope. I can see both sides. I can see my friends that I went to college with being called racists and uneducated. I can see my Hispanic family being called illegal (even though they aren’t) and dirty. The attacks on one another don’t solve the issues we have in America, they make them bigger.

Some fear for what the future holds with Donald Trump as our president. Many are asking why they feel that way. I’m going to try to answer that. Donald Trump has highlighted the fact that there is still racism in our country. A lot, a lot, of my friends voted for President Trump. I went to a small private college in North Carolina. Most of my friends are upper middle class, white, Republican, college students. I don’t think they hate me for being Hispanic, I don’t even think they would want me or my family to leave this country. What I do know is that since Donald Trump started campaigning and has blatantly called out minorities it is a lot easier for people to show their dislike for them on the street. I’m not saying that he purposely did this, I’m not saying that he created this hate. I’m saying that it has made it a little bit more understandable and a little bit more okay to display. My family, just like many others, has been harassed for our race multiple times, before and after the election. What has changed is that now every time we step outside our homes we fear more people will join. It was classless to call one another out before, now the standard has risen and since we see someone high up calling others out why can’t an everyday person do it? These aren’t my friends. My friends have shown their love, and their compassion towards me and towards others.

When most of my friends voted for Trump they voted for hope and for something different. We were under a Democratic platform for eight years, that’s a long time. They voted for Trump in a way we usually root for the underdog. Many people didn’t even believe that Donald Trump would make it very far into the elections. Many weren’t on the ‘Trump Train’ until after the primaries. They voted for him on those final election days because he isn’t a politician, he’s a businessman with no filter. He believes in the second amendment and protecting us from criminals. He says what’s on his mind and he doesn’t hide it, which is very different from the rest of the political world. They voted for him because they still have faith in their party. They wanted to hold him accountable for everything he was been campaigning for. That’s why they voted for him and I get it.

So, to all of my very political and very outspoken friends hear me out. I’m here and I understand you. I’m scared but I’m hopeful. I’m American and I want our country to always stay great and always stay together.

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He restores my soul. {Psalm 23:3}