Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power.
- Abraham Lincoln, 16th President of the United States of America.
In this day and age, with the political elites constantly being questioned, scrutinized and often belittled, we have arrived at a pivotal moment. As was evidence, one week ago, the United States of America has selected Donald J. Trump to serve as the current President. Out of the multitude of people that this unique nation possesses, Donald J. Trump is chosen.
If you were to ask me two years ago who would run for President, I would not have told you Donald Trump. The very notion that he would be our next leader was absolutely improbable. However, the deed is done. The election results are in, have been in for the past week and few days. So, all we can do, is see what he will do.
Who knows, perhaps he will be a better leader than we all initially believed. I say this, in my optimistic sort of view on the world as a whole. I realize that the world that I reside in is filled with individuals who not only disagree with me on certain topics. Everyone is like that at some point in their lives, it’s that we’re seeing it more so now than ever.
The cause? Because a man who has said questionable things, done unethical things, and has promised impossible things has just become America’s go-to man. By no means am I a fan of Donald J. Trump, nor do I believe he is the best man for the job. However, as is obvious, one individual’s opinion matters, but not in comparison to others. Even with the popular opinion swinging towards Hillary Clinton, the Electoral College declared Trump the winner.
Honestly, both of these leaders should not have been able to be in the positions that they were in. both have committed several questionable, unethical, and idiotic things in their lengthy track records. But this is America, where anyone with the willingness to run for president, can run.
Albeit the individual with the most financial backing will gain the upper hand, but still you get the opportunity to make an attempt. This election, by association, and like many previously, was an election to decide which of the two evils was less malicious.
I’ve given up on the notion that Trump will lose and instead replaced it with a hope. Truthfully, I hope that we are all wrong about him. I honestly do, with all due respect to the past leaders who have guided this nation forward in our long and tattered history. I hope, that maybe he can solve our problems. If he cannot solve our problems, then someone will. The man who led this country during the Revolution was a little known military leader for the British. The man who ended the bitter struggle of American vs. American was a little-known jack-of-all-trades.
Who knows? No one can predict the future, there can only be hope. My hope is, that maybe we can stand united again as our nations name implies. For today, we may collectively call ourselves citizens of the United States of America but in reality we are more divided than united. The only instance where we were more divided, was in the late 19th century, and that saw the bloodiest war in American history. That’s why I chose the quote by Abraham Lincoln, because he is arguably the best President that America has ever had. It’s actually a close-knit tie between him and George Washington, but typically Lincoln beats ole’ George.
In any event his words still ring true, despite being written and stated over a century ago. It is true, “All men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power”. Truer words cannot be said in these trying times that we live. Now, we must look towards our nation’s future with optimism, in that we will achieve restoration.
In truth, our nation’s solutions will probably never be solved in my life-time. However, that doesn’t mean that I can give up hope for the future. My children will someday inherit my possessions, my legacy, and in the grand scheme of things, the world I live in and share.
The bottom line is, for everyone complaining that Trump is President, let it go. What’s done is done, there are no replays, and this isn’t a game. This is real life, and even though he is elected to lead this nation, this is still America. This is still your home, try and cooperate, compromise, don’t breed hatred.
Hatred only breeds more hatred, and right now hatred is something we don’t need. Instead, try and work together, send an olive branch to those who you disagree with. Don’t shout your opinions at your enemies, be civil. We live a nation that accepts so many believes, views, opinions and ideals that I can’t even count them all. In grand scheme of things, we can look at the past for guidance, but only the present can forge the future for that distant generation to reflect on.
