The day after the election was quiet. I woke up to a weird feeling in the pit of my stomach that I couldn’t quite find the source of. I knew things were about to change, I knew that from being up until 2 am watching the results of the election. I just didn’t know what was in store for the days after.

 

What I’ve seen over these past few days is an outcry of love. I have witnessed people coming together to be together, to show their support for one another as more and more are afraid from the results of the election. I’ve seen Facebook post outpouring with support for Muslims, Black Lives Matter, LGBTQ+, and for women.

 

I have also seen the other side, of posts and people spewing their hate, from both sides I might add, of their distaste of both presidential nominees and a distaste of other’s actions from what has happened.

 

I believe that it is now more than ever that this election has given “we the people” an idea of what it means to use your voice, to make your claims, and to get people behind a cause. What I wish for all of us is to come together. What I want is to help all I can. I was a woman who didn’t follow the elections, didn’t watch the debates, I just barely stayed informed, and I’m realizing now that that wasn’t enough.

 

We have made so much progress with laws being passed, movements coming together, and people realizing the progression we are making from just as little as 100 years ago, we can not let that dissolve due to disagreements. We need to talk, hold meetings and rallies and sit-ins and get our ideas out. We need more people telling us their experiences; we need more people getting involved.

 

This election is the first one that I have seen that so many people are upset, hurt, but also the first time I’ve seen so many speak out, explaining their views and opinions. We NEED that, but in a civil manner. If this election is what gets the people involved, so be it. We need more people to get involved in the politics and policies that they want to rant and rave about over Facebook and Twitter. We need more resources to make people aware about what bills are being passed, what laws are going on behind closed doors. We need people getting involved and talking and making positive moves to the America we all want.

I have witnessed people crying because of the election results. I have witnessed people rejoicing in their choice. I've also seen each side complaining about the other and fights between friends. I've already heard from people who do not want to go to Thanksgiving this year to face the opinions of their own families. There should not be this much division in a country that values to stand united.

What we have here in America is the power to help each other, to deal with this election and move forward. We have had so many protests and rallies happening over these past few days, we cannot let that fire die. We need to keep going, we need to work together. Push away the bias you have and who you voted for versus who they voted for. Work together, talk together, figure out what each side wants and makes moves to get those changes to happen. That’s what a democracy is about.