I ask that you read this with the intent to understand my perspective instead of the intent to judge, degrade, or reply. I thank you for reading this piece with an open heart and an open mind, and I hope there is something for everyone to take away that leaves you a little better than you were before.
Can we try to come from a place of understanding when almost half of voters chose to elect a man who has exemplified racism and sexism to degrees we would not feel comfortable with if we met someone like that at the grocery store?
Attempts at unity undermine the feelings of millions of Americans who are genuinely afraid of what this means for their rights and the equality of all Americans. Equality is one of my innermost values, and that value is being challenged by the rhetoric of Trump and his supporters. While I am a harmonious person, I will not attempt to make peace with anyone who is unwilling to listen to my side. That isn't harmony or peace; it's submission. I will not put my values on the back burner and pretend to be okay with Trump's presidency. This is not a time for compliance but a time to advocate for equality.
I am deeply moved by the passions of millions, incited by the election of Donald Trump. I feel for those Americans who are afraid more than I am. I stand with you. While I am not against Trump supporters, I ask that they do their best to see why so many Americans are afraid. As a white woman, I refuse to support Donald Trump or any of his advisors that promote racism, sexism, and xenophobia. I am a liberal, yes, but I would not be outraged if a conservative president-elect had not bragged about sexually assaulting women and encouraged racist policies, among other things. As a woman who has been grabbed in terms he spoke of, I am not forgiving of his words and will not dismiss them as "locker room talk." As a bisexual woman, I am not forgiving of the stances he took on gay marriage. As a human, I am not okay with his promises to further oppress minorities, nor am I okay with the racial profiling that he suggested. As an informed American citizen, I am not okay with his blatant ignorance of Russia's invasion of the Ukraine.
What is even more concerning is Mike Pence, the alt-right winger who believes in conversion therapy for homosexuals. I hope we can make it through these next four years, and I hope we do so with dignity. I hope those Americans who feel afaid of Trump's reign find peace at the end of the day, knowing that so many Americans will fight for you and with you. I will fight for and with you. I hope those Americans who voted for Trump think about the consequences of their actions, because a vote for Trump wasn't just a vote for Trump; it was a vote for Steve Bannon, a man who symbolizes racism and division.
Sure, Trump told his supporters to "Stop it" in regard to harassing minorities, but what are those words going to do when he has been fueling this fire the entire election? I'll give it to him that he made sure he was the loudest person in the room, and people heard him above all other candidates. Donald Trump may have made all these great promises, but he is already breaking them. While Hillary Clinton may not be a saint either, it is like choosing from black and
In her final campaign speech in Pennsylvania, Hillary said that none of us wanted to wake up Wednesday morning and wish we had done more. That is exactly what I did. I have always been rather quiet about my political beliefs, not wanting to cause a problem, but now is not the time for silence. We, the vast majority of voters who did not vote for Trump, will not be silenced. We will make our voices heard for the next four years. I hope this is a wakeup call to Americans who did not vote that maybe they should. I hope this encourages people to find the truth instead of rely on falsifications of the media. Most of all, I hope this allows us to move forward. Sure, we do not want this, but we will fight like hell to make sure the next election is won by the most qualified candidate who would be the best choice for all Americans. I will fight like hell for the rights of my brothers and sisters of humanity. We will overcome this, America. I hope we can unite, but we will all have to listen with the intent of understanding instead of the intent of judging, degrading, or replying. In order to unite, Americans cannot continue to oppress others on the basis of skin color, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, or anything else.
