Donald Trump is going to be our next president. Whether you’re happy about that or not is beside the point of this article. Throughout the whole election campaign, there has been a strong voice coming from the west side of the country. Mainly… Hollywood. Strong pop culture icons such as Miley Cyrus, Beyoncé, Katy Perry, Chris Evans, Lena Dunham, and so many others voiced their support for presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.
Each person has their right to voice their beliefs and their political stance; I am not denying that fact. But explicitly saying that someone who voted for the other party is an offensive select choice in words that I refuse to say in an article is hypocritical. A video was produced and released months ago that prompted citizens to get out and vote. Also in the same exact video, the nearly one dozen or more celebrities that participated in the video said that their vote and the people's vote should be heard, but only if it's for Hillary. The amount of hate on social media from celebrities and citizens alike proved how divided our country in on this election.
On election night, Fox News’s Greg Gutfeld made a statement that accurately reflected how many others and I feel.
He stated, “This is culture versus culture. When you’re in a small town and Katy Perry and Lady Gaga and Funny or Die and Miley Cyrus mock you for your unhappiness and your beliefs... you now see millions of people saying ‘I’ve had enough of that culture.’”
I think this is so true and was accurately represented with the outcome of this election. People are tired of being told what to do and how to be by celebrities who believe that they are so empowered to direct others who are not as fortunate as them. Voting is our own political right that we determine because of what we believe in. It is our job to be educated in each candidate’s policies and opinions in order to make our own decision on which person we want to vote for.
In the wake of the election, the thousands upon thousands of social media blasts deafened my accounts. From celebrities and personal friends alike I witnessed a never-ending stream of hate and threats. I was baffled and appalled. The hate is uncalled for. I respect people, no matter who they voted for, and I would hope for the same treatment in return, but unfortunately I don’t get that. I am not racist, or homophobic, or Islamophobic, or anti-Muslim, or anything else that Trump supporters get called every hour on the Internet. Extremists are calling for those who voted for Trump to be killed. They expressed that our country will return back to the state our country was in during the 1950s. But it won’t. Do people not think that if the roles were reversed, that Republicans would be under the same, if not loads more, criticism for that behavior?
The media, as well as pop culture influence, blew this election out of proportion. I believe that much of the animosity would not be happening if the media weren’t so involved. Over analyzing the two candidates only made the whole situation worse. I’m sad that this was the first election I was able to partake in, but it was. I voted with the knowledge that I gathered from both candidates. I made my political decision without the influence of any outside voice. Especially the voices of celebrities. I made my vote the way that a citizen is supposed to; without pressure from someone who has more money and fame than I have. I encouraged others to vote, not threatened people to vote a certain way, unlike others. Be proud of who you voted for. You exercised your constitutional right, so be proud that you voiced your opinion by voting. And end the hate.
