Out of a twisted combination of fear, frustration and ignorance, this country has elected to its highest office a man who is wholly unfit to be the President of the United States. We have elected a B-list reality TV star who cheers nuclear proliferation, normalizes hatred, divisiveness, and dodges federal taxes. This international embarrassment is not lost on most.
The vitriolic cowardice of ignorant and previously-silent masses—the thick sea of bile the he dredged from the chests of helpless, manipulated Americans—has always been there. And in his fear-mongering, populist pursuit of power, Donald Trump has brought forth hundreds of institutionalized but taboo prejudices that seemingly decent people hid from their friends, family, and community.
This strategy was a slap in the face to the national progress we have made in the last eight years. But to survive in adversity we must always find opportunity. As colonies and in pursuit of independence we defeated one of the most powerful empires in the history of human civilization—a feat that could have only been accomplished together.
So if we must find the silver lining, perhaps this is an opportunity for the serious re-evaluation of our two-party system in 2020. Perhaps this is an opportunity to mobilize the coming-of-age millennials, who from both parties in 2008 and 2012, fought for the election of true, decent people with only philosophical differences (let us not forget that much of this electorate is only recently eligible to run for office.) This is an opportunity to prove that four years of this exploited division will collapse under the microscope of reason—that united, We the People are stronger than any one candidate may lead us to believe.
We are a nation strengthened by its diversity—by its capability to assimilate and unify those who wish to pursue the American dream. Donald Trump won the presidency by running a campaign that capitalized preyed on the unrepresented and untapped furious power of hatred that many of us thought had been suffocated long ago. This was a relentless, unethical pursuit of power fit for a man of his ego, and was rightfully condemned by politicians from both parties. And yet many say we must rally behind him. In my mind, we must rally behind one another. Only an indecent person drives us apart to then capitalize on the fear left in the chasm. We, as a nation, should have known better. To feel confident in our future and firm in our convictions, we must first have faith in ourselves.
I do my best to remember that many voted for Trump despite his childish temperament, his bullying, and his crippling failure of character. Many feel they must force some sort of abstract but political change into this democracy because they are uncared for, unheard, or unrepresented. Why voters (less than half) chose him as a vehicle in which they could arrive at this objective is beyond me.
But some people voted for him precisely because of his temperament. Many got behind his angry, tiny-fisted furor because his hot air inflates their reckless and soul-stripped ego. These are the cowards who shoved you against a locker, called you a whore, a faggot, chipped your tooth, and spit on your shoes. They are the weak, childish men that blame their circumstances for their failures. They cannot stand on the courage of convictions that they do not have, and that damning reality will be brought to light over the next four years. Today, tomorrow, and for the rest of their lives they must live as that coward. And they will surely reap what they have sown.
We are a country that has long taken pride in its togetherness and common decency despite our political differences. By my loving family, supportive friends and strong community, I was taught to work hard, be relentlessly responsible and to be unconditionally kind. I was raised in a country where we share in each others’ happiness and sympathize with the sickness and plight of our neighbors. We must support this country by supporting those who find themselves within it, whether they are gay or straight, Christian or Muslim, rich or poor—that is what decent people do. If nothing else, I believe we should strive to be kind in our pursuit of happiness. And we, individually, are the good people of this nation who are united by far more than we have been led to believe.
United, we and we alone are the government of this country. And though we must be gracious in both democratic victory and defeat, this was surely a battle that no one won.
