I am wondering how as a country we got to the point where over 15,000 people felt more inclined to write in Harambe (a dead gorilla) as their vote during last night’s election. It disappoints me, that in this wonderful country we live in, Trump and Clinton were our supposed two best candidates for the presidency. I am not here to tell you who I voted for or who you should have voted for. I am simply here to express that yes, our country does need change, and it is not just needed with who holds office.The people of this country have torn each other down with ignorance and hatred from both sides; no one better than the other.

I am a Latina. I am a first generation America. I am a daughter of immigrants. I am a college educated millennial. I am a feminist. These are all things about me that instantly lead some of you to assume certain things about me, but I am also a supporter of those who fight for our country, I understand that we all have the right to bear arms, and I do believe that all lives matter. It is impossible to find a candidate that perfectly aligns with all your beliefs, but as people, we have the right to hold some of our beliefs at a higher value. As Americans, we also have the right to support the candidate or political party that we believe will uphold those values.

Assuming is not something I like to do. I do not assume that all Trump supporters or Republicans are racists or bigots, nor do I assume that all liberals are anti-military, lying baby killers. During this election, I understand that a lot of our votes came down to which party we respected more. What is mind blowing to me as an American, and as someone who believes in basic human decency, is that so many people were spreading hate and ignorance and ridiculing others for their beliefs. A lot of the same people hating on Clinton's candidacy because they believed she didn’t support our troops are a lot of the same people who are bashing their peers for supporting her. Are you aware, that all those men and women in uniform fight for EVERY American’s right to have a voice? Do not shame those who take advantage of their right to have a different opinion. Trump haters are not any better. You claim to hate his ignorance, but it is just as close minded to not accept the fact that other’s have the ability to think differently than you.

As a millennial and someone who is going to be affected by what this presidency will bring, I am here to say I do not care if you are a Republican, a Democrat, or if you prefer to vote for the third party. As citizens of this already great nation, we all have the right to voice our opinions. All of us were allowed the opportunity to vote, regardless of whether or not you believed that these candidates properly represented our country. It is because of this, that I am disappointed with this election. Not because I am disappointed in the outcome of whom our country elected as president, but because as a people we seem to have forgotten that all fellow American have the right to their own opinion without having to deal with the repercussions that are your hateful comments towards them.

I understand the faults that people saw in Hillary Clinton, but I am also very powerfully aware that for a lot of people they saw Trump as a representation of racism or ignorance. It is also evident that in today’s society, filled with social media, memes, and everyone’s opinions constantly in your face via Facebook, that a lot of information gets misconstrued and taken out of context. This is part of why this election season was hard for me, and for a lot of others. It seems that rather than educate themselves on the candidates, a lot of my peers, old and young, got their information through social media. I have friends who are Republicans, Democrats, Libertarians, and even those who say they do not really care. I do not agree with all of them, but we all have the decency, compassion, and capability to listen to each other’s opinions, try to understand one another, and sometimes just agree to disagree without having an argument. Sadly, not all people handle things as reasonably.

During this election season, we saw the uglier side of our country’s people. It truly saddens me that there has been so much ignorance and hatred from both sides. America, for so many years, has represented equality and the idea that working hard will take you a long way. A lot of that has been shattered in this past year because people lack the ability to hear other’s out. It is okay to disagree, to have different values, and to vote for whatever political party you choose. What is not okay, is the lack of human decency and compassion some people have. We claim to be “One Nation, under God”, regardless of what God you believe that is, which means we should treat everyone as our brothers and sisters.

I am disappointed with this election, not because Trump became president, but because it brought out the worst in some people. Our county does need change, and maybe you believe that begins with a new kind of leader and government, but I hope it ends with us all learning to accept each other regardless of race, religion, gender, or political affiliation.