With the end of this US electoral cycle, many of us are left shocked and deeply disturbed by the nation's decision to elect Donald J. Trump as the 45th President of the United States. I have seen an enormous range of emotions and reactions in the days following this announcement, and today I'll be sharing my personal thoughts regarding this moment in history and where I think we'll be going from here under our new, I can barely type this, Commander-in-Chief.
From the get go of the selection of nominees, very few, barring maybe Trump's primary white-middle class constituency, could have envisioned the outcome of the presidential election. Who could have guessed that the misogynistic, politically inexperienced, tycoon billionaire would have dominated the electoral vote and ousted Hillary Clinton, who was widely expected to secure the presidency? Certainly not me, not in my darkest dreams, although many Trump supporters I personally know warned that it could be a very real possibility and that I should not so easily discard the notion.
The election raged and raged onwards, the two primary candidates trading barbed insults and degrading the very basis of respect that all politicians should bear towards one another. That's a fantasy, however; it's clear that whatever notions of what US politics should look like in polls, data, or behavior has indefinitely been thrown out the window. Hillary Clinton, who represented many of the negative qualities we've come to associate with our politicians: lying, personal interests, and political cover-ups, was my fallback option after Bernie Sanders lost the primaries. She by no means inspired my loyalty, and I could not defend the deletion of her private email server, but she was the choice I envisioned that could make this country come together. To come together under the first female president in the history of the United States would by no means have been an insignificant fact, and it deeply saddens me that in my eyes, progress for this country has taken a step back.
However, I'm also acutely aware of the flaws she represented and the continuation of our current government's problems would have continued under her. Now we're stuck with Donald Trump, and I'll be real here, while America has experienced darker days I can say that the road ahead of us to greatness has been set back.
You say how? You say give the man a chance to do his elected job now? You say that he will push Congress to enact the promises he's made to his constituency and that he will unite the American people.
All I can say is, look at the man. For a man he is under his bolster and arrogance, look at the man and the way he's treated his subordinates and workers. Bear witness to the same man as he seats himself in the Oval Office.
For months, Donald Trump has inflamed racial divisions within this country, and continued an ongoing dialogue where he never believes himself to be in the wrong, even after a video went viral where he quite literally said "Grab them by the pussy" when speaking about his effects on women. For months Donald Trump has selectively chosen the reporters he'd let into his press conferences, negating freedom of press. For years Donald Trump has mocked those who oppose him and ridiculed those who have the courage to stand up to him. I cannot imagine this same man to wake up one day for the better, and to suddenly repent against his previous words.
I cannot envision someone who hasn't had any political or military experience to resolve the escalating conflicts in the Middle East, or to stand up to Russian aggression that's risen to an all-time high since the Cold War. I cannot picture this man who's repeatedly insulted Mexican and Muslim minorities to unite these people under the same banner, under the same purpose. I do not see a future where ecosystems and global warming are actively protected and addressed when he has not set forth a clear plan to tackle environmental issues. I do not see a future where Donald Trump's presidency will make America great again.
As a budding political scientist, I'm obliged to take a step back and remove my feelings from this situation, to understand that he fairly won the electoral college vote and is now the next president. As such, I do hope that he has the capacity to make this country grow, to make America strong again, in the face of growing global opposition. As a realist, I will say what I've said to Donald Trump supporters throughout the election "There are many problems that we face within our government and internationally, and I do not believe Trump is the man with the answers." Hopefully, I'm wrong on many aspects of that statement, but in my heart, I do not feel I am.
I have been fair throughout this election process; fair to his supporters and fair to the criticism revolving around Hillary Clinton. I will continue to be fair, because I respect democracy, even when democracy does not produce the results I want. As I type this, I'm conscious that many have revolted wholeheartedly against this notion and believe that democracy has failed them. To them, I ask, "Did you vote? Did you make your voice heard?" If yes, then I can only respond that your vote DID matter, but unfortunately, it did not matter enough in our outdated political system. To those who didn't vote, well you have no objective say in any of this because you have forsaken the very thing our soldiers have died to protect in past wars, and part of this current problem is you not turning out to voice your opinion.
I struggled with the notion of a Trump presidency when I woke up on November 9th, 2016. It took a will that was beyond me at the moment to roll over, place my feet into my boots, and begin walking to my classes. But I did, because America has seen darker days, and will see darker still if we do not unite in the face our challenges. I have my doubts and fears, many for my friends who will be indiscriminately attacked for not conforming to the image of what America should look like under Trump, to them I say "Raise your chin, and give them hell." Ultimately, I believe that the American people even when so historically divided, will overcome this too.
Always forward, forward always.
May God bless America.
