The 2016 presidential election was no doubt the most unique election ever. With two of the most disliked candidates in the history of our country, Americans were bound to have disputes. Being a college freshman, this was the first major election I was able to vote in, and I most definitely participated and exercised my rights.
The question I am most frequently asked regarding the election is, "Who did you vote for?"
Not only is this a personal question that I would never ask somebody else, but it is a question that I have found pretty much always leads to arguments. In regards to who I voted for, I genuinely get nervous to tell people who I chose, this being because I voted for Donald Trump.
Your reaction to who I voted for is most likely similar to many other people's. I have been called ignorant, stupid and careless because of my political decision, and this genuinely makes me upset. I have learned that people are often so quick to judge and demean other people who have different political views from them. Even though I would love to see a woman become president, there was no way I would have voted for Hillary Clinton. I believe Trump genuinely cares about the wellbeing of this country and I can't say I feel as strongly about her. My opinions are different from most people I have talked to over the past year. Statistics show that the age range of 18-22 year old voters were majority Clinton supporters. These statistics put me in the minority.
Multiple times over the past year, I have seen Facebook posts saying, "Unfriend me if you're a Trump supporter." It is sickening to see that our country can't unite as a whole and appreciate our diversity. When I see these posts, I simply ignore them and go about my browsing. After reading this article, I expect some of my audience to be surprised at my decision to go public about my political views, just as I expect some people to be disappointed or upset with me, and that's OK.
In addition to the names I have been called, I had peers my senior year in high school tell me I have to vote for Clinton because I am a woman. Not only is this sexist, but it is nobody's business to tell someone else who they have to vote for. When people attempt to discuss politics with me regarding the election, I first tell them I will not partake in the conversation unless they are willing to see both sides of the argument. In my opinion, this is fair.
As a young adult, like most other young adults, my political views have been influenced by my parents. That is not to say I cast my vote because I was following my parents' footsteps, but because I genuinely believed Donald Trump was the best candidate for the job. Clearly he did something right or else he wouldn't have won.
In conclusion, just because I am a Trump supporter and I believe that he will "make America great again," doesn't make me any less of a person. I treat everyone with respect and I expect everyone else to do the same.
