November 8th, 2016 will probably go down in history as one of the most shocking elections the United States has seen or will ever see. Hillary Clinton won the popular vote. Donald Trump won the presidency. People are getting mad, getting loud, and getting to work. When you live four blocks from the White House, situations like this can be both a blessing and a curse.
The election is all anyone knows how to talk about right now. Back home, everyone just tells me to "get over it" because "there isn't anything to be done." I refuse to agree with that. Yes, my backpack is covered in Hillary buttons. Yes, I own a "Not My President" shirt. Yes, I still get really sad whenever I think about November 8th. Here are five reasons why, three weeks after the election, I'm still bitching about it.
1. Donald Trump came at "Hamilton", the crown jewel of theatrical political statements.
Last week, Donald Trump tweeted, "The Theater must always be a safe and special place. The cast of Hamilton was very rude last night to a very good man, Mike Pence. Apologize!" I can't really wrap my head around what this apology that Trump is begging for refers to in this situation. Mike Pence made the decision to make his way to the Richard Rogers, sit there for three hours, and watch while a numerous amount of bold statements were made on immigration policy, American diversity, the distribution of wealth, and a government failing to adequately serve the people. And as we all know, these are the very issues that have so many people up in arms following election nights.
These are the issues that have people rioting and protesting and walking out of classes all over the country. The theater has always been a safe space for political discourse. In Shakespearean times, actors and writers and artists were persecuted for expressing their political beliefs in their work. Newsflash Trump, those times are over.
Take your crybaby tweets somewhere else. And, if you're planning of boycotting Hamilton, I'll say thank you on behalf of all of us who want to see it a second time but can't get tickets because it's always sold out.
2. People seem to have the ridiculous notion that all liberals hate Republicans.
I like Republicans. I respect Republicans. Fun fact: I've only ever dated Republicans. America was founded as a result of conflict and political discord. Throughout our history, that's how shit has gotten done. One side has an idea, the other side has a completely different view, we compromise, and then we implement a change. Yes, I will fight with Republicans until I have to scream and walk out of the room. But I get over it. Because you cannot define someone based solely on their political beliefs.
All of the protesting going on is not Democrats trying to fight Republicans. It's Democrats trying to fight Donald Trump because they are concerned that his policies, combined with a majority red Congress in both the House and the Senate, will put liberal and progressive policies, especially those regarding the rights of women, immigrants, LGBT people, and African-Americans, at stake.
3. I still don't get how a reality show host and businessman with no political experience beat Hillary Rodham Clinton.
The woman was the First Lady of Arkansas, FLOTUS, a New York Senator, and the Secretary of State. She's held offices in two out of the three branches of government. I think it's safe to say she may be the only person in modern history who was that qualified to hold the office of the President. Yes, I suppose I can agree that Trump is a successful businessman.
But last week, as I was watching a clip from The Celebrity Apprentice, I could not believe that this man, who was being consulted by Joan Rivers and who fired three people in the span of five minutes, is now the President-Elect of the United States. We now live in a country where you can go from reality TV host to President in 18 months, and where you can beat one of the most talked-about political figures in the world out for the job. Kanye 2020.
4. Donald Trump wants to run the country from New York City.
Hmm. You know, maybe he should have gone with Pence to see Hamilton. Because, if I recall, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and Alexander Hamilton constructed a deal in which the capital was moved to Washington, D.C. from New York City. Permanently. There's really no reason for the President to be running the country from anywhere else besides 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
Not to mention the fact that there is no possible way for him to handle an international brand name while juggling international relations, restoring peace to his own country, fixing the economy, etc. You know, all the things a President has to do. Jimmy Carter had to give up his peanut farm. Trump should plan on giving up his plane and his tower.
5. For the first time, I actually feel heard.
I write, I post, I protest. Over the past three weeks, I stopped taking living in Washington, D.C. for granted. You see things a little differently when the election affects who your neighbors are, what kinds of internships you can get over the next four years, and the kind of job that will be waiting for you when you graduate. We went from a country who was represented by a black president to a country that will be represented by a misogynistic, sexist, racist, homophobic white man.
There seems to be something very regressive about that. So no, I don't hate Republicans. No I'm not going to stage a coup. And no, I won't storm the Electoral College on December 19th. But I will continue to write and post and protest. Because, despite all of his flaws, Donald Trump has done one good thing for me: he has empowered me to take a stand against him and the ass-backwards voting system that got him elected.
