Why do we choose derision over cohesion? Why do we choose anger over peace? I watched a video today that made me think. I saw protesters at a Buffalo, N.Y. rally sitting, arms linked, facing a booing crowd and shouting at the top of their lungs, “No Trump! No KKK! No racist USA!” As I watched, I saw rally attendees jeering in the faces of the protesters. I saw protesters going limp as security guards attempted to escort them off the premises, and all the while, I heard the person filming screaming in the background: “We don’t want you here! Go home.” The amount of hatred surrounding the protesters shocked me, and made me ashamed. But then I noticed something interesting. While the majority postured and yelled horrible things at the protesters, a few rally attendees stood out. Holding Trump signs over the protesters and fanning them, these attendees did not seem hateful. In fact, their actions appeared to be compassionate. Now, whether or not I was simply misreading their actions, the image stuck with me.
As I sit here, now, I cannot help but think that these attendees are good people. The media has done a phenomenal job at portraying Trump as a terrible man, and yet in the midst of that portrayal, his supporters receive equally bad publicity. Although the video I watched indicates that his campaign brings about dissension and hatred from both sides, I don’t think the media has done justice to his supporters. These people, as with the supporters of any candidate, see something in Donald Trump that they find admirable. They are not bad people, regardless of the candidate they have chosen to support. They are people exercising their right to choose, and they are dedicated to that choice. In the time he has been running, Trump has not entered an arena that was not packed. His supporters love him, and they come out to support him. They make room in their schedules, they spend money buying his hats, and they do all of this, knowing that their candidate is disliked by a nation of people.
I don’t write all this to add support to Trump’s campaign. From day one, I have stood against him and his hurtful rhetoric. Instead, I write this to encourage those around me. It is easy to see Trump supporters (or the supporters of any campaign) as sheep. We assume that because they support this man, they must be just as hateful and ignorant. Although that is the easy route to take, it is not the right one. By viewing his supporters this way, we accept Trump’s rhetoric and cross-apply it.
This campaign will prove to be historic. As of now, we will either have the first female president, the first democratic socialist, or the first (and only) Trump. Though change is imminent, let us not make this change reflect hate. Choose to respect each other and listen to one another regardless of opinion. If this election should go down in history, let that history represent love and dignity -- no matter who stands on stage on Inauguration Day.
