Many of us gathered at local ballots and casted away the fate of the next four years of our future. Truly, I was never one that was invested in the election. I watched one debate while cooking dinner one night, I avoided social media posts and local articles regarding the topic. When I started hearing things about who was announced as each party's candidate, frankly I found it humorous. All I knew about Trump was his favorite line from the Apprentice, "You're Fired!", along with the song titled 'Donald Trump' by Mac Miller. As for Hillary, I knew she was a controversial topic over the past few years, but I didn't have any interest to immerse myself in the hateful speech that was scattered across my social media. I tried to remain as dormant as possible as the debates became tougher and tougher.
However when it became time to vote, I was exposed to Donald Trump's video footage of him speaking disrespectfully about women, going as far as saying, "Grab her right by the pussy!" Sure, I didn't familiarize myself with his platform, what he stood for, besides watching a few debate highlights and reels. But to me, I feel like that was enough to turn away my vote. Why? Growing up as a child, I found the president (George W. Bush at the time) to be a role model to me. Obama as well. When I pictured myself having children, especially females, did I want them to look up to someone who said such horrible things, and get away with it? I feel like we live in a society, especially within the millennial hook up culture, where men are allowed to make demeaning comments towards women, disrespect them, and treat them as objects. Looking into pop culture, songs get away with describing women in a shallow connotation. Why should we further this behavior as the president of our country can successfully get away with saying such comments?
Not only that, but being the Editor in Chief for the University of Houston, a lot of my creator's work reflected the deep fears and concerns that have arose due to Donald Trump. I am fortunate enough to attend a university that prides themselves on diversity, and the amount of exposure to different and knowledge I have gained from the student body is an amazing privilege. I became exposed to only some of the terrible things through my creators, such as his comments about building a wall dividing the United States from Mexico, and even his mockery of a New York Time's reporter Serge Kovaleski who suffers from arthrogryposis. It absolutely shatters my heart to hear not only from my creators but my friends that they are scared to be in this nation under such discrimination. Being a white female I am not directly affected by this, but by being an empathetic human being with the heart the size of Texas, I can't help but break inside for everyone out there who is hurting or afraid of the fate for our country. I really hope that this event will bring America closer together, realizing what it truly means to be an American, whether your Caucasian, Hispanic, Latino, Middle Easter, African, you are human and therefore should be loved the same.
With all that being said, maybe he will bring about change in our country, for the better or worse. Am I fearful of what is to come? Yes. Am I going to sit here and complain? No. I do believe we are a powerful nation, and we can make the best out of whatever situation comes in our way. However, a quick side note to all the conservatives that are performing hate acts across our country to minorities, and even my friends on Facebook that are attacking liberals and going as far as un friending each other. Something that Obama said that stuck to me was "Before we are Democrats and Republicans, we are Americans". Stereotyping people based on their political affiliation is wrong, and isn't someone that is worth anyone's time in the first place. Even people who are attacked for voting for Trump, I feel for you. I want more than anything to live in a nation that loves, nurtures, and cherishes one another. The biggest thing the election has taught me was who I inspire to be, I hope my passion for other human beings becomes infectious, and that I can make an impact as in the way we treat and feel about one another not only as a random bystander but a fellow American.
