Do not take Trump lightly. We all joked and laughed when he announced he was running for president. We shook our heads in disbelief when he made it past the primaries. We made memes, we mocked him, we laughed during the debates. Some of us were a little uneasy, shocked and angry that he could even run for president and make it this far, but still, none of us considered that he may actually win. No one thought he would make it this far. And now, he is the president of the United States.
And still, people mock and disregard him, saying he’ll never get anything passed through Congress. He’s too extreme. But this is exactly the same as our first mistake. We didn’t take him seriously. We didn’t think he would make it past the primaries. And look. Look where we are now. This is not a situation where we can dismiss his words as “just words.” We cannot sit back and assume the political powers will do the right thing and stop Trump from tagging all Muslims, taking away same-sex marriage, deport immigrants who have journeyed here to live with their families and escape horribly violent lives. This is not the time to relieve ourselves of responsibility for our future. For those of you who feared if Clinton were to be elected that she would get every initiative passed, those fears are just as relevant here. Trump has proven he is power-hungry and he has not shied away from bullying and lying. The government is under the control of Republicans, the party that Trump represents. We can't say he won't use his own allies. He got to where he is now with a rhetoric of hate and spite. Who’s to say he won’t continue to use it to propel himself and his initiatives forward?
We cannot risk this. We cannot sit back and let things play out. Who knows, even if his political and economic policies are the greatest thing to happen to America, it will mean absolutely nothing if our quality of socio-cultural life dismisses sexual assault, racism, prejudice, and oppression as irrelevant. Regardless of who you voted for, stand for human rights, and do so actively. As Obama said in his speech this afternoon, “Don’t ever think you can’t make a difference.” Because thinking you can’t make a difference is just as dangerous as acting against progress.
This closing sentiment is specifically for Trump supporters. I am not wishing you hate, but I ask this of you:
I sincerely hope that even those who voted for Trump can learn to stand for or strengthen their stance for women's/LGBTQ+/African American/Muslim/Latino/immigrant/special needs/Jewish/any-other-targeted-group rights. I understand you may want change in government. But many of us are legitimately scared for the future of our country, friends, families, and selves. These fears are not unjustified. Do not belittle them. Do not dismiss them. Help show that I'm wrong and that he won't make our country a cess pool of hate. I want to be wrong. I want to believe that trump won't promote the awful things he and pence have said. But given the overwhelming support he has gotten despite his blatant disregard for anyone not straight, white, and male, I can't. So please, Trump supporters, show me that our culture won't take a hundred steps back. Show me I'm wrong.
