It’s clear our country is in an uncomfortable place; a divided place.

You see, everyone is different, everyone has different beliefs, wants, and dreams, and everyone is entitled to his/her own opinion.

Therefore, times of disagreement and frustrations are likely to occur. As of recently, these disagreements and frustrations have been because of the recent election and it’s results.

This past week we elected a new person into the Presidential office for the United States of America. Which, depending on your political views, was either seen as a triumph or defeat.

Electing a new president is a privilege we have as being a part of a democracy. WE the people get to CHOOSE our president. While, no one will ever completely agree on one person being president, everyone still has an opportunity to vote and to essentially play a part in determining who will lead our country for the next four years.

My point being, as an American, I believe we are blessed to have a democracy.

So, why do so many of us seem to be forgetting this? Why is the word “hate” being thrown around for our future president? And, why are so many people claiming they are “ashamed to be an American?”

For the last 230 years, we the people have been voting on whom we believe will be the best president for the United States of America at that time. However, it is still inevitable; there is no way that every single person will be happy about who is elected for president.

Lucky for us, our founding fathers created three branches of government in order “to ensure that no one person or group of people could amass too much power.”

You see, the President of the United States is not the United States of America, nor does he define everyone that lives here. Therefore, it’s ok to disagree with his thoughts or beliefs. Many people have disagreed with presidents in the past, and will continue to disagree in the future.

However, it is not ok to be harmful, “ashamed” of where you live, or disrespectful, because of ONE election out of the last 56 Presidential elections.

So, please take these ideas into consideration if you are one of the many people who are “ashamed” to be an American, scared to see what “damage” Donald Trump (or any future president for that matter) will do, or considering moving to Canada because of this so called “disgrace of America.”

I know people are frustrated with who was elected for president, but it happened. This is our time, as Americans, to be proud to be an American rather than ashamed, and most importantly, to stick together during these times of fear or controversy.

We need to be respectful of those that are our leaders during this time (or anytime) in our country, and most importantly, everyone around us!

As Abraham Lincoln once said, “America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedom, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.”

For the sake of those that have died before us, our lives, and those that will die after us, let’s not destroy this beautiful, free country we get to call home!

Let’s all be kind and responsible citizens.