With the presidential election having just happened, the Facebook posts spiraling out of control, and the rioting increasing, I can't help but share with you another political post. (Sorry).

I should probably start by warning you before you read further: I am a Republican. I am white, middle class, and Catholic- your textbook conservative. BUT, that doesn't mean I am a terrible person or that I will apologize for being conservative. I may be labeled as being a bigot, a racist, or a homophobe, but I want you to know that those labels (which aren't true) are NOT what defines me or the whole Republican Party. Some things that do define me are that I want a lower national debt, lower taxes, more security for our homeland, respect for the unborn, and a free market. This doesn't mean that I don't love my gay friends or that I don't want to save the Earth from climate change. I'm sorry, but climate change isn't my biggest concern right now. My biggest concern is decreasing our spending, decreasing national debt, and making life better for Americans. I may believe different things than you, and I may prioritize things differently, but I respect that you have the right to disagree with me just as much as I can disagree with you.

I want to be clear that I want ALL AMERICANS to work hard and be successful. Let me repeat that... I want ALL AMERICANS to be successful. That includes gay people, straight people, African American people, caucasian people, Muslim people, Catholic people, and everything in between.

I think we lost sight of what is really important over this election cycle. We became too focused on what divides us rather than what unites us. Nowadays, every little thing holds a potential for dividing us more. It makes me sad. Really, it makes my heart hurt that we are this divided. America is not what we are portraying it to be. America is supposed to be a place where people can live their dreams- a place of hardworking citizens who support one another. Even though we may completely disagree on many things, we should be willing to work together to make life better for not just ourselves, but future generations of Americans.

What saddens me the most is that if we stay as divided as we are now, I am afraid that America will continue down this path of violence, and ultimately cause her own demise. I know many of you are upset with how the election turned out, but it really can't be changed now. All we can do now is hope that our country can become a better place with President Trump. The least we can do is give the man a chance.

What also breaks my heart is that people are saying that they're ashamed to be American. It is heartbreaking knowing this nation was built on hard work and sacrifice, and people are saying they are ashamed of that. The thousands of men and women who gave their lives for this great nation should not go unnoticed. Their sacrifice must always be remembered- honor and sacrifice must never die. They sacrificed it all so we could have the rights we do- freedom of speech, freedom of religion... life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. We should be proud of that sacrifice- I know I am. We're better than this senseless rioting, violence, burning of the flag, and disrespect of the nation. I repeat: we're better than this.

I agree that there is a lot of hatred toward one another in this nation, but we must not let the hatred win. We must love our neighbors and treat them how we want to be treated. Whether you are a Democrat, Republican, Independent, man, woman, gay, straight, lesbian, black, white, Latin American, Christian, Muslim, or Atheist- we all need to be loving toward one another. We all need to be proud of this country again. We must come together peacefully, because, as Abe Lincoln once said (as he quoted Mark 3:25), "A house divided against itself cannot stand."