Dear America,
We must rise above the hate. We need to stop demeaning each other for our differences. Before you count yourself out and label yourself as innocent, realize that if your Facebook status has been "F**k Trump" or "F**k Third Party Voters" you are also at fault.
We are perpetuating the cycle of attacking those whom we disagree with rather than consoling those that need our guidance. It is not lost on me that I witnessed 20 of my black peers praying for their continued safety before the announcement of the election results. It is not lost on me that Muslim-Americans are fleeing our country. I see the fear. I acknowledge the fear. I feel the fear.
But, we cannot allow our fear to become hate. Hate feeds hate. Fire feeds fire. Violence feeds violence. It is our duty to realize our own shortcomings as well as the faults of others and find away to overcome them. Find a way to compromise. To forgive. Our nation is bigger than one man. Two men, A political party. Two political parties.
Our nation is bigger than our disagreements. We have prided ourselves on being a melting pot of cultures and beliefs, and we cannot throw that out of the window the very second that it is threatened. We must acknowledge the threat and stand unified against it. But, we must also maintain a peaceful nature. Though you might be overwhelmed with anger, now is not the time to let it consume you.
The fear of the unknown and the different became anger - which became hate. And, that hate is now our nation's leader. But, hate cannot defeat hate. We must hear each other's concerns and find a better path. We have all become set in our polarized mindsets, and we have lost sight of where we started and how far we have come. I am not asking you to ignore your fear. I am asking that you not let it become hate.
Sincerely,
A Fearful College Student