We all know that Donald Trump becoming President has caused major division in America. From his lack of political experience to his radical decisions, emotions are taking over right now. But no matter what, there are a few things that people are doing that, when I was young, I learned shouldn’t be said or joked about. From a political science perspective and from an American perspective, there is a certain level of respect the office begs. No matter who’s occupying it. Forget about who you voted for briefly. When did it become okay to say these things? Last I knew, it never was, and still is not okay to act this way.
Let me explain what I’m referring to. First of all, I’m referring to “Not My President.” This phrase has consistently been a trend on Twitter since Trump won. Now, I understand that not everyone voted for him and, in fact, a lot of people really don’t like him. But here’s the thing: unless he does something really stupid, he is President of the United States. And if you are a citizen living in America, he is your president. You don’t have to support him, or like him, but realize that living in a democracy means that in every presidential election, one will win and one will lose. That’s just how it goes. It’s like a sporting event or playing a board game. You do what you can, but in the end, only one can win. So, when did it start being okay to say a president is “not my president?” Because technically speaking, he is.
The other thing I’m referring to is things like celebrities threatening to lash out. For instance, Madonna recently was quoted as saying “I have thought an awful lot about blowing up the White House.” Just like it’s wrong to shout “fire” in a crowded space, it’s beyond wrong to make threats about “blowing up the white house.” But because these celebrities are in the limelight, they’re acting as role models for the younger generation. In essence, they’re teaching them that it’s okay to say things like this when it’s not. Yeah, I know the First Amendment protects our freedom to say what we think, but even this has limits. We can’t send the message that it’s okay to go around saying “I have thought an awful lot about blowing up the White House.” If I said this, I would be reprimanded, and rightfully so. Ethics.
Like I implied, we are all entitled to our own opinions. And we are all able to say what we feel, within reason. But when we’re teaching younger generations that it’s okay to say such dramatic things on a platform that garners attention, there’s something wrong there. We should be coming together like the true Americans we are and helping each other and displaying positivity instead of turning into the anger and negativity that is so vehemently being protested. Instead of angrily saying that good will win in the end or being full of doom and gloom, go out and do something good for someone else to prove that point make that good happen. After all, it is on us.
