I find myself at loss for words when trying to explain the fear and despair I felt when I saw that Donald Trump was officially declared the next President of the United States. I find myself filled with rage that our country, "the land of the free and the home of the brave" could elect a man filled with so much hatred for anyone who is not like him. This is a man who ran a campaign based on "Building a Wall," a man who ran a campaign filled with misogynistic messages, a man whose entire being screams white supremacy, a man who supports and encourages rape culture in America. America, you've messed up. This is the next POTUS. This is our future. I am fearful, and you should be too.

Going issue by issue, I would like to start with Trump's stance on mental health and the second amendment. You may be asking yourself, why would we talk about those two things together? I'm asking the same question. It is clear that Trump is a major supporter of the second amendment. This is made apparent by his endorsement from the NRA. In Trump's position on the second amendment, he takes an entire portion to talk about "our broken mental health system." I will give him this; he agrees that our mental health system is broken. However, he talks about how those who commit murderous crimes with guns are the ones with mental health issues. As someone who has suffered from mental health issues, I am personally offended by this. Never once have I considered committing a crime with a gun. While I do believe both issues are important to be discussed, they need to be discussed separately, without putting the blame on those who are mentally ill.

My fear of Donald Trump is only intensified when thinking about his view on women and women's rights. As I am sure you all know, Donald Trump is pro-life. Objectively, I can respect that just as anyone from the Republican party should respect that I am pro-choice. It is when Donald Trump says that,"some form of punishment" should be in order for those who choose to have an abortion, that I start to worry. My thought was that it was decided in Roe v. Wade that it is a woman's constitutional right to decide whether or not to have an abortion. You may be thinking to yourself, "Don't worry, he's just one man, he does not have the power to make abortion illegal." I thought so too, until Trump made it very clear that he would do everything in his power to overturn Roe v. Wade. How is this possible? He plans on appointing Supreme Court Justices that share his strong pro-life agenda, potentially giving them the power to take away safe and legal abortions. When it comes to Planned Parenthood, Trump does admit that while they do good things, he will still de-fund them so long as they provide abortions. Say goodbye to affordable STD screenings and cancer screenings, America.

Trump not only has plans to take away women's rights, but he blatantly disrespects women as well. I could go on and on about the outright sexist comments he's made, including calling women "nasty," "fat," and "piggy," as well as making comments in regards to how women are only good for their looks and sex appeal. As if that isn't enough to convince you that America has made the wrong decision when voting for a sexist president, Donald Trump is accused of raping multiple women, some of juvenile age. That should tell you that something is wrong. Something is wrong in the country that has allowed a man accused of rape to become the next POTUS. Trump has made statements about suing those who have claimed to have been raped by him. I do not want to live in a world that promotes punishment for survivors of sexual assault coming forward. I am terrified, and you should be too. I am terrified that the ideals that he lives by will be taught to generations to come. I am afraid to live in a world that teaches men that they can "grab women by the p***y." That is not the kind of world I want to live in.

Moving on, America, you have made the wrong decision. You have messed up. You have voted for a candidate with a VP that endorses conversion therapy. Pence wants to use taxpayer dollars to enact this. Those same dollars that Republicans whine about every time a social issue receives funding. You voted for a candidate who has the power to take back all of the progress made for the LGBTQ community; a community that has fought so hard and for so long to be recognized as legitimate people--as legitimate as the straight, white male you voted for.

America, when it comes to showing your racist side, you have succeeded. Trump ran a campaign on fear and the idea that he was going to "build a wall." A direct quote from Trump himself: “You have people coming in, and I’m not just saying Mexicans, I’m talking about people that are from all over that are killers and rapists and they’re coming into this country.” So basically, America, you are siding with the fact that it is okay to generalize those not born in the US as "rapists" and "killers." You are perpetuating hate. You are teaching our children that those not like us are dangerous, and as Trump puts it "very bad." I recall watching a debate in which he referred to Mexicans as "hombres," using slurs to devalue them. Another terrifying fact is that our next POTUS is publicly endorsed by the KKK, a hate group that celebrates white supremacy, a group that believes in acts of violence to show power over others, and a group that has already begun demonstrating their joy in the results of the presidential election. Be afraid America, be very afraid.

I could go on and on about why America made the wrong decision in the 2016 Presidential Election, but I hope you get the point. I understand Clinton was not everybody's cup of tea, but I find it hard to believe that citizens would be crying tears of fear for their own personal safety had she won. America, as I sit here writing today, I am filled with fear, disgust, and sadness. We took something so important to the next four years, and turned it into a laughing matter with someone who resembles that of reality TV star. So, America, make sure you send a little extra love to those personally effected by the results of this election. Let the voices of the unheard be listened to. Beyond that, make sure you start actively supporting and advocating for organizations like Planned Parenthood, The Center for Reproductive Rights and the National Immigration Law Center, among many others. You are important and you have a voice, let it be heard.