America, this is our wake-up call. We are living in a divisive and turbulent political era. In a particularly involved and reactionary race, we questioned the degree to which fundamental human rights are represented in our democracy. And we have our answer.

Trump’s victory serves to spotlight how broken and disenfranchised our country has felt for years. The fact that people willingly voted for a bigoted, inexperienced reality star over a qualified, competent politician is telling and dispiriting. He baited people with fanciful ideas of restoring the American Dream. By vaunting his everyman image, and exploiting his position as a political outsider, Trump lured Americans. For most, a vote for Trump was a vote for destruction of the political elite. Admittedly, there is an inherent rationality in wanting to change our flawed system. But this mentality becomes problematic when the only alternative to the perpetuation of bureaucracy is a man whose narrative is fueled by racist, xenophobic, homophobic, and sexist rhetoric. More realistically, a vote for Trump was a vote for fascism, hatred, violence, and ignorance. His ideology is attached to an explicit and hateful disregard of human rights. Whether he believes what he claims is immaterial; he has become a symbol for hate nonetheless.

A morally bankrupt man will not save this country. Casting aside the veracity, or lack thereof, behind his policy proposals, the more prominent concern is his normalizing of nefarious behaviors, actions, and words. It is no longer an issue of Republican versus Democrat, but Majority versus Other. Are we so exhausted by political veneers that we forget what it means to be human? Social freedoms and civil liberties are within the purview of not only every American, but every person. Identity should not dictate how society treats us. One’s skin color, religious belief, sexual orientation, ethnic background does not change who one is as a person. Rather, this is determined by character, morals, passions. No group is inferior to another. Progression is not achieved through oppression and discrimination—giving minorities a voice does not strip the white patriarchy of theirs.

Furthermore, Trump’s promise for change holds no substance. He is merely a narcissistic caricature, a neophyte within the political sphere. With a campaign largely based in resentment and spite, there is no educational, or pragmatic, backing behind his political ideologies and emotional assertions. He displays outward disdain for climate change projects and foreign free trade, proving he knows nothing about the reality in which we live. Once his supporters recognize he runs on empty promises, hopefully, they too will revolt.

This is a time to inspire revolution, creation, and hope. We are shaken from our complacency, and we must fight with empathy, intelligence, boldness, and ambition. Battles are won with full hearts and minds, so we must remain optimistic and compassionate. Our sense of urgency is awakened. We now realize the people hold the true power, and our voices invoke action. There is beauty and goodness in this tragedy because in darkness, it reveals the overwhelmingly blinding fire and passion that still exists, and will continue to exist.