Let me just start this off with this is not the article I had intended to write nor had I hoped that I would be writing. I was hoping (and looking forward) to writing something positive that came out of the election like the first woman President, or that we voted against racism and bigotry. But I'm not writing any of that because we didn't get any of that. I'm confused, hurt, scared, afraid, and perplexed. How have we gotten this far in our advancements for minorities, women, and LGBTQ+ communities, only to have those basic rights basically stripped in a matter of just a few hours? All I want to know is why. On Wednesday, November 9th I walked out of my house fearful, I walked out of my house scared because I thought I was going to get attacked or called racial slurs while on my way to school. I shouldn't have to be scared but Donald Trump becoming President-Elect made me feel that way. It's not just him as a person, it's his values, the way he treats people. His effect on this election has not been positive at all. He's been running on the basis of racism and hatred towards almost every minority in the United States. The scary thing is, people actually voted for him. People actually support this man. That is something that, even as I'm writing this, cannot comprehend.
I started off Election day very positive, I only had one class and I was positive that once I came home that the polls would be in mostly everyone's favor. Apparently, it wasn't. From the time I got home to the time I went sleep, Trump was leading. Let me just repeat that: Trump was leading. People were shocked surprised and heartbroken. How could a man with so much hate inside of him win the Presidency? With teary eyes and feeling somewhat hopeful I went to sleep. I couldn't sleep, though. My friends were texting me; "How could this happen?," "He's going to win I can't believe it." I awoke the next morning feeling hopeful and my hopefulness didn't prevail. Trump had won. Was this a nightmare? Could I suddenly be dreaming? No. It wasn't a dream or a nightmare. It was a reality. Election day proved to millions of minorities and members of the LGTBQ+ (including me) that their lives were not valued. That we weren't cared for anymore. Imagine that feeling, imagine waking up in the morning and feeling sick to your stomach that people don't value you or any of your brothers or sisters. "But all lives matter that's why I voted for Trump." Oh, really? Your vote for Trump just doesn't mean you voted Republican, it means you voted for 4 years of hate and bigotry, racism and divide."But he's been the change we've been looking for!," "He's going to do so much for our country!" Please tell me how a businessman with no political experience can make our country better? I just don't understand. I'm upset and I'm sure most people are on the same page with me. But I'm also confused. I recently had a family member comment on one of my posts that they voted for Trump, bringing up the illegal immigration excuse and how he will handle it "so well." What shocks me is that members of our own family fled Nazi Germany and came to the U.S to escape Hitler's rage. I also didn't understand why they are supporting someone that supports conversion therapy and provides almost no funding for HIV/AIDS research; all while multiple members of the LGBTQ community in their family. I don't get it, I just don't get it. We just took all the unity that we created in the last 8 years and it's all shoved down the drain. Our hard work, our blood sweat and tears all just flushed away. On Twitter, I saw a funny post (at the time) on the Sunday before the election that said, "Don't forget to set your clocks back an hour but don't set America back 50 years." Well, we set America back 50 years. For those of you who said your vote didn't matter, it did. It could have easily called this election where the votes were only separated by the hundreds. As I sat watching the election results come in, I thought to myself "we're really doing this." America made history in literally the worst way possible, now you have people fearing for their lives. You have children asking "Will my family be deported?," "Will I be deported?" It hurts my heart to hear this, especially since I'm a future teacher/educator. Our children should not fear the President. They should look up to them with respect and see how he works with all the people. It's frightening that our very own children and brothers and sisters know that Trump is not the right person for President. It's heartbreaking and stomach wrenching.
As we look back on what has happened the past views days, we cannot grieve anymore. We have to fight. We have to fight against the hate and the bigotry. instead of dividing us even more, we know unit together with each other. The day after the elections I got a chilling text message from my mom before I left for school, it said: "Be careful out there and be the change you want to be in this world that is full of hate. Don't be afraid to stand out, Love You and be safe at school." In the next four years, we need to make an even bigger difference. GO OUT AND VOTE. Don't bring up that lame excuse, "it won't matter," because it will. You will look back on November 8th, 2016 and realize that your vote does matter. Stay strong, be safe and remember people out there care for and love you.
