I am not a political person. The idea of politics scares me. The idea that one person can hold so much power over one country scares me even more. And what scares me even more than that? The idea that this one person can hold so many followers and people believing that this one person knows what is best for millions of people. Elections are not my favorite things to experience. So many people have so many different opinions – and these opinions bring out the worst in some. The 2016 election brought out every fear I have about elections and politics. There were two candidates – with one hundred percent different views than one another, in extreme ways. On Tuesday, November 8, 2016, the Presidential Election was held. On Wednesday, November 9, 2016, Donald Trump was officially named the president-elect.
I was shocked. Shocked that, what seemed like a joke, became a reality. I know many others were, too. The day after the elections, the world felt strange. There was a gloomy presence that cannot really be explained, only felt.
On this same day, one of my favorite bands, The 1975, played a show in Fairfax, Virginia. Before one of their most meaningful songs, “Loving Someone”, was played, the lead singer, Matty Healy, made a speech that I feel deserves to be heard and read by tons of people.
“And over the past four or five years, we have been coming to America. We've been touring here and we've kind of made a life for ourselves here. It's kind of like our second home. Well, yeah, and we love it here. And it's difficult, today, to be objective about what America is and what it stands for and who you are and I really empathize with that. And let me tell you that I know America. We know America. And the America that we know is a young America. It's a liberal America. It's a compassionate America. It's a socially responsible America. It's an America that doesn't react to fear with anger and doesn't react to anger with fear, especially. It's also a Black America. It's a Muslim America. It's a Gay America. And today is a dark day. Listen, we feel it as well. We feel it just as much as you. And the thing is – whereas I know that you can see – that what seemingly is half of the country that has, at the moment, sided with, unfortunately, bigotry and racism and all of those things that we don’t stand for. All that I’m saying is, that the other half of that country, AKA you guys, is probably the best country that we’ve ever been to.”
Here is my advice for these next four years.
It is so easy to get lost in the disbelief that this is our reality and that this is actually what is happening. You can not allow yourself to get clouded within that disbelief. You must be aware. Be civil. Be kind. Be smart. Learn about what is going on within the country. Take a stand against what is wrong and stand up for what is right. Do not be selfish. Think about other people. Be compassionate. Understand. Do not lose heart. Do not act in moments of fear and anger. Do not stand by while acts of hate and fear take over. Do not let this nation become hateful. Be smart. Be kind. Help each other. Be aware. Be aware of what is going on around you and aware of what is going on not around you. Never give up. Keep moving forward. Do not allow our country to be taken aback.
We will not back down. We will fight. We will overcome. We are strong. We just have to be smart and be kind.
