"Make America Hate Again", "Love trumps hate", "Dump Trump", etc— these are the slogans our nation is now becoming known by due to their glorification through repetitive protests regularly covered in the media. These sayings represent imminent social division, national shame, spreading unnecessary hate, and a blatant disrespect toward our own leader.

Of course, many supporting such slogans have taken part in crying "not my president" in response to so much as overhearing the television covering a topic on President Trump. However, what few people consider is how their actions may be observed from an international level. Our competitors don't find our president laughable so much as the actions of our people. While many spend their days in schools and at jobs, rather than emphasizing those who work for a living, our media sheds light to citizens who spend their days in denial as they continue to protest President Trump's election.

What does this say about our country? If President Trump is not your president then who is? It is not unreasonable to assume that while so many detest the idea of recognizing Donald Trump as the president, most would look to him for strength and guidance during a time of national turmoil such as when President Bush was highly regarded during 9/11. In fact, President Trump has already stepped forward during such times in the early months of his presidency through his support in recent natural disasters such as Hurricane Harvey.

Denying such support because the president does not hold similar values to one's own may be simple until one finds themselves in a time of need. It is doubtful that these same individuals claiming "not my president" would reject a hot meal and refuge for their families should their homes have been wiped out. On the other hand, those that claim they would still take what is offered to them from the president and their government is in a position of even graver vulnerability to hypocrisy as it is saying that while they do not recognize their elected representative, they are more than entitled to accept what is offered to them regardless. In this case, if one is fighting against a individual who had little to gain by becoming president, then it is questionable as to what exactly they are fighting for.

Unfortunately for them, President Trump's values are exactly what got him elected into office. Meaning, he may not hold the same values of those crying with picket signs in their hands, but he does hold the same values of the vast majority of working-class citizens. Most importantly, where were those protesting nonconformity to presidential recognition the last time an unfavorable candidate was nominated into office? When people are found waving around an upside down flag while defacing the name of their elected representative, they may be right. He is not their president because they are essentially forfeiting their rights as a citizen of the United States. Lucky for them, this country promotes freedom of speech and expression making this controversial behavior "legal" but by no means socially acceptable despite whether it is executed in great numbers.