I just wanted to say thank you to the 45th President of The United States. Donald Trump, you have shaped me into the woman I only dreamed I could become. A strong, feminist, open-minded, impowered, Democrat. You have led me to believe in my fellow women, LGBTQ+ community, and fellow Democrats. Donald Trump, thank you for getting me interested in politics as a millennial.
Before you, Donald, I was fresh out of high school and completely uninterested in politics and oblivious to which political party I affiliated myself with. I thought the "feminist" and "pro-choice" girls at my high school in a highly conservative area were too outspoken and too "out there" for me to ever understand. I was so unwilling to understand or even educate myself to see if they had a reason for their beliefs. If it weren't for you, Donald, I probably would've been like the majority of other young adults that follow their parent's political beliefs just out of conformity. I didn't want to educate myself on which party I believed most of the values because I thought I was too young for politics to affect me. How wrong I was.
If it weren't for you, Donald, and your completely bigoted and racist word choices and propositions that you want to change our country with, I would've never found feminism. Feminism has connected me to so many friends who believe and encourage the social, political, and economic progress and equality of women. I would have never known about the many women like Maya Angelou, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and Frida Kahlo, who before me stood up for feminist movements like female suffrage, reproductive rights, gender equality and so much more. I would have never recognized the immense problem there is in our society when it comes to women's rights, and how important it is to stand up and speak up about the importance of them. Feminism has become so enriched in the way I think and believe now, I can't imagine my life without it. To call myself a woman, I need to stand for the progression of women's rights and stand with the other women in the world who are struggling to overcome governmental and societal expectations ignorantly placed upon them.
I spent most of 2016 following Hillary Clinton closely. I watched the debates and interviews she was in, supporting her every move. This being my first Presidental election where I was able to vote, I wanted to use my vote to support the right candidate who I believed could push the Democratic agenda and truly make America the most accepting and open-minded place in the world. I wanted Hillary to be the first woman to be elected President and I wanted her to rock her famous pantsuits while running the Oval Office. Without you, Donald, I wouldn't realize the importance of Secretary Hillary Clinton. She paved the way for every woman, whether you realize it or not. She spoke strongly about empowering women, and while she spoke about it, she exercised it every single day she got up and campaigned for President. Although on November 8th, she was not elected as President but she has already done so much for the people of America and even of the world than I believe you will ever do.
Thank you, Donald, for directing me to believe so strongly in Hillary Clinton and the Democratic party.
Overall, Donald Trump, I can not wait until 2020. I can not wait until I get the chance to campaign against you again and hopefully see you only serve one term. I hope that one day, you will realize that your "wall" that you so desperately wanted to build, separated families and shattered dreams. I hope you realize that everything you stood for and campaigned for took power away from the people who needed it the most. But, then again, you're Donald Trump and you'll believe anything you tell yourself because egotistical and self-centered that way.
Until 2020 however, I will continue to speak out about feminist agendas and LGBTQ+ rights. I will continue to believe in and empower women who seek equality and rightfulness of ALL people. I will not stop being the beautiful, fierce, and strong feminist that you showed me I needed to be. Thank you for that.
