As the election concluded, I will be the first to admit that I was not whole-heartedly enthused with its outcome. However, as the days have progressed, I have started to realize a much larger problem at hand than people simply being upset over Donald J. Trump becoming the next president of the United States: people have become angry and bitter over this result as well. Being afraid is a God-given right that everyone is entitled to feel over any matter they deem necessary. I am a little scared by the multitude of possibilities that can occur over the next four years myself. But while voicing your opinion is a very important part of being an active citizen in the United States, many people are using this right as a negative approach to solving a problem that calls for a much different take on things.
But the question is: How? How do you express your feelings of anger, disappointment, and hurt without offending the other side? It seems that as America's divide begins to drastically emerge, finding a solution to this problem only becomes harder. Around every corner someone is having one of their free rights taken away from them. All medians have vanquished and now the only solutions remaining are ones that benefit one rather than both.
Many citizens who are upset with the election results have confided in violent protesting, setting fires, halting traffic, graffiti, and the relaying of harsh words to others who voted for Trump. These actions are giving many people a reason not to take protesters seriously, and honestly, who could blame them? Additionally, Republicans are now being generalized into the category of racist, misogynists, and homophobic by many. Unfortunately, you can't deny that there are people who exist like this in both parties. There will be Democrats who handle situations wrongly, and there will be Republicans who fit the description of their stereotypical categorization. Because of picking apart each party into generalizations based off of the few who cause problems, we are demolishing the hope to see the good in the many who truly do want compromise and prosperity for the country that they love so dearly.
We need to realize that not everyone who voted for Hillary (or even Third Party for that matter) believes that the world is ending because Trump was elected, or that violent protest should ever be the solution to our disagreeable issues. Just as well, not everyone follows Trump's actions or agrees with all of his opinions just because they chose him on the election ballot. Putting all political aspects aside, it is our job as citizens of the United States to listen to each other. We need to be selfless and compassionate, understanding and willing to sympathize for the people who are hurt because of these outcomes. Each person has a right to express their triumphs and disappointments without feeling that someone will be equipped to attack them at the first sign of disagreement. Instead of finding everything negative in this situation, it would be helpful to take a step back and look at the future possibilities that can heal and rebuild our nation instead of further divide it. Progress begins with acceptance and the willingness to make changes.
That being said, stomping around on and/or burning the American flag, causing upheavals and destruction in your own cities, and bashing on the opposing side isn't going to create less problems for anyone. If anything, it is only allowing the divide to grow in our crumbling society. If there's only one thing you should take out of Hillary Clinton's views, it's that we are all stronger together. It is time to accept the reality of the things that we cannot change. America is a great nation that possesses so much potential for abundant progress. It's time to stop agreeing to disagree on everything, place our pride aside, and meet in the middle somewhere to recreate the land of the free.
