My fists shook with anxiety as Wolf Blitzer blared the news coverage on CNN. I cannot differentiate now whether the pounding in my chest was due to the organic chemistry test the next day or the election itself. My confused fingers tapped buttons on the remote, switching from one news channel to another, all of them showing the updated electoral votes each candidate received. I threw my anger out at some of the "projected wins" and the “Third Party” votes Gary Johnson took a swing at, just for kicks and giggles. When Ohio and Florida turned a bloody crimson across the TV screen, I called it a night.
Perhaps, I became disconcerted by the erroneous prediction I’d followed but could not see happening. Praying for the best, I slept over it, only to be disappointed, but not surprised, the next morning. Trump had clinched votes to win. DONALD freaking TRUMP was the victorious candidate, defying all the odds that the media conspired against our public minds. The new leader of the free world, as National Public Radio puts it, had appeared in media for his misogynist and racist remarks and bigotry, an incomprehensible temperament, but a frightening lack of specificity in his agenda as the president.
However, in the days immediately after the election, we have all witnessed and even participated in debates, in which we defend our stances and blame either candidates for what has happened. I have shared various things on social media, which have already stirred a controversy across the nation. I understand that many of Hillary’s supporters, like myself, are stunned and feel betrayed and horrified that such an unprecedented outcome would be witnessed. Here are some of my thoughts about this election.
1. The minority groups are not as afraid of Trump as they are of Trump supporters.
Not all Trump supporters are racist, but all racists support him. The uneducated folk that are obviously easily influenced will be the ones that, in their ignorance, inflict the most of racist acts. These people are more likely to be aggressive in expressing their prejudice than the educated folk.
The more educated supporters may still share the ignorant, isolationist mentality about groups that are not white, evangelical, or Jewish (due to Ivanka’s conversion). They will be more likely to be racist in a passive manner. For example, living in West Monroe, I’ve dealt with many who appear friendly, but ridicule my diversity and religion at the same time. I believe that as humans, we all are somewhat racist; it’s a component of our mental growth that we cannot forgo. However, hurting someone due to that uncontrolled bias is completely unacceptable.
2. Hillary and Donald both are constituents of America’s upper class.
Yes, Wall Street was backing up Clinton with campaign donations, and so understandably she was not the populist she claimed to be. However, her tax returns showed that she paid 31% in income tax and $10.6 million previous year.
Trump, on the other hand, has eluded paying taxes by reporting a 916-million-dollar loss. Doing so may have saved him income taxes for nearly two decades after his failed business ventures. Now as a president he will review and adjust the national budget, so the IRS feels pressured to let his evasion go. The actual tax forms will never be released post presidency.
4. The oppression and objectification of women has been federally consented.
I am not here to attack other women, nor to slander Melania Trump. However, it bothers me greatly that a woman with a colorful, exposed (literal terms) past will be “gracing” the White House, the same mansion that Abigail Adams, Martha Washington, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Michelle Obama lived in. All were advocates of progressive movements and the empowerment of women. All were inspirations to their husbands. The same goes for Trump, but the first lady just may be the inspiration for objectification and infidelity in marriage. However, no Trump supporter will have an answer to this when he or she brings up Hillary’s history.
Prior to the election, Trump made crude comments about sexually assaulting women, not leaving out his own daughter Ivanka. He has insulted a Fox News Reporter and many more women such as the Hispanic Judge. His election success has proved that America is no different in comparison to developing countries when it comes to respecting women. In fact, more work needs to be done.
5. Perhaps what really bought America was the anticipation of a new approach to problems.
The working class of the United States is fed up with the same political conflicts in Washington, DC. Obamacare, which many Republicans are dying to repeal, is greatly helping the same low-class voters that Trump won. I am not defending the healthcare policy; I am merely pointing out the obvious. The Obama Administration has had to deal with criticism firstly due to a black president who continued his presidency in the midst of Republican interference from the House. Obama was a cool guy who was diplomatic across the globe and did the best he could--reducing unemployment, providing health care coverage to all (no, it isn’t perfect), and under whom, Bin Laden was killed.
Hillary Clinton could’ve campaigned better, but nothing could protect her from the bad rep of her emails. She played defensively because she had no other choice. Introduce a new idea like Trump’s and she feared losing her popularity in key Democratic states. She tried to act a s civil as she could, with the concept of adding on to and improving Obama’s rhetoric.
Although Trump’s win was not predictable, his ideas were new and fresh. He talked about bringing back jobs and getting rid of NATO, which is an outdated union. He attacked one group after the other, engaging in the spontaneous. Most importantly, he spoke like a total tycoon, a deal maker, who would ally with Putin and maintain nuclear power. He spoke in vernacular, a trait rare among others. And lastly, he was the only non-politician.
I am bitter, plain bitter, that Trump emerged victorious. No, maybe Hillary’s victory wouldn’t have been great, either. But least she was predictable. At least she had a history in diplomacy and civility. It is crucial at this time to spread the truth, not adding fuel to the fiery divide. Climate change prevention will severely suffer now as we know it. Riots and racism towards certain ethnic groups will be the norm.
I’m holding on, in this roller coaster of Trump America.
