Dear 2020 President-Elect,
You are my president.
I may hate you. I may love you. I may think you are corrupt. I may not agree with your views. I may wish, beg, plead for the day you step out of office.
I may think you are a mistake. I may think you are a miracle.
You are my president.
Your leadership over me and my fellow Americans will not depend on our opinions of you.
My responsibility to be an active citizen will not change due to differing beliefs.
Our hopes for improvement and innovation will not disappear when the American flag pin exchanges hands.
You are my president.
I will not promise you complaint-free support.
I will not promise you a peaceful transition.
I will not promise you agreement. I will promise you acceptance.
You are my president.
Your story will be written by a media that fails to write news without an editorial edge.
Your words will be told by a narrator who may or may not be fond of your character.
You will go along with the story and nod, just like the bobblehead that will eventually be created in your honor.
You are my president.
Your slogan will become the faded text on someone's ball cap.
Your initials will become the shiny metal of someone's pantsuit pin.
Your face will morph into photoshopped pictures and Sunday morning cartoons.
You are my president.
I may feel pride at your success.
I may feel embarrassment at your failures.
I may feel discomfort when your choices do not align with mine.
You are my president.
But it does not matter what I think of you.
It does not matter what I tweet of you.
It does not matter what I say of you in a 45 minute-long AP Government discussion.
You are the leader we chose. You are the voice of our country. You are the face of our nation.
You are my president.
My emotions will not rid me of etiquette.
My beliefs will not alter my behavior.
My opinions will not control my obedience to my country.
Because you are their president. You are our president. You are my president.
It is my right and my responsibility to respect you.
