I rarely share my political opinions. However, I refuse to stay silent in light of this past week. I refuse to remain silent as my immigrant friends frantically called their family on Wednesday to tell them to be careful, I refuse to remain silent as I see people weeping in King Arthur's Flour as I wait to order because they could not believe what America had decided, I refuse to remain silent as my LGBTQIA+ friends fear to be themselves.
But do not think that I will verbally attack you for picking the orange-manchild as your President-Elect. I will not, for this is a country where it is your right to do so. But I will ask you this: is it okay that those who support said manchild are now attacking students of color at the University of Pennsylvania, is it okay that there are middle school students chanting "Build the Wall" in Michigan, is it okay that there are pamphlets created by the KKK that are now being spread around Birmingham, Alabama?
To be perfectly honest, Trump does not scare me. What horrifies me is that more than half of America chose him; half of America wants him to be the symbolic representation of America for the next four years. Half of America currently rejects immigrants, minorities, Islamic people, the LGBTQIA+ community; half of America rejects me. And if that is not horrifying I don't know what is. I proudly call myself American and my home is currently rejecting all that I am: a minority, an immigrant, a POC.
But now is not the time to be scared. The day to mourn is over. We had our time to grieve. I ask you to remember the half of America, the larger half of America, that does support you. We all believe that America is so much more than what it is right now, and there is still the ability to pursue your dreams, be who you are, and have your voice heard. Remember this, and embrace it. Embrace all of the love and support I assure you is still there.
To all of the Trump supporters: prepare yourselves. Prepare for the firestorm headed your way. I am not implying in any way that I will prevent your voices from being heard, and I am not asking you to unfriend me or cut all ties with me, for this will only further divide as and further prevent us from communicating (which was the problem in the first place). But I do ask you to respect my voice. Respect that currently I am gearing up to fight with all I have. I will NOT be silenced and I refuse to have my brothers and sisters silenced as well. Know that the light in me and all of the others with me will be powerful, it will burn, and it will be a firestorm.
Together we can. Together love trumps hate. Together we will rise. Perhaps it all won't go our way, but at least then we can let good ol' Dartmouth Alum Robert Frost (Class of 1896) know, the world will end in fire. The fire that we used to fuel us. The fire that will hopefully inspire change.
Inspired by: recent events, and Firestorm by Adventure Club feat. Sara Diamond
