Image via Reuters
Donald Trump’s victory over Hillary Clinton was likely but not entirely expected. It is a given that in a competition or race of any kind, one person or team will win and the other will lose. This is so basic to our understanding that it could go without being said.
However, the response to Trump’s victory has been just as vitriolic and horrible as the entire election season. After staying up until 5 AM, I woke up to see some terrible reactions from conservatives and liberals alike. One of the most odd things was some Democrats and liberals claiming that Donald Trump is #NotMyPresident.
The quickness to refute reality is shocking. Grown Americans who have lives to live, some of whom have executive level jobs to hold down and families to take care of, actually took the time to start the #NotMyPresident hashtag on Twitter in an attempt to protest the reality of our democracy.
Well, I have some news for you: Donald Trump is the president of the United States of America whether you like it or not, whether you believe it or not. HE IS THE PRESIDENT. HE IS YOUR PRESIDENT.
Now, if the tables were turned and Hillary Clinton were the president, there would be charges of fraud and rigging. I’d imagine that the people who are unhappy about Trump’s victory would likely have pumped their fists in the air in triumph. But that’s not the case. That didn’t happen. There are not two winners. Trophies weren’t handed out to everyone for mere effort. All we are left with are the facts and our reality for the next four years.
And what do we do when we receive facts? We can cry and whine and create hashtag protests. But doing any of this doesn’t change the fact. An entire convention floor was filled with tears when Clinton lost the race but it doesn’t change the fact that Trump won. About the only thing left to do when we have facts right in front of us is to accept them. And some Americans are showing a truly childish and selfish side with this #NotMyPresident tantrum.
Public opinion for over the past year has shown that nobody really liked either one of the candidates. Several people thought voting would be like choosing between the lesser of two evils. While emotions ranged from shock and disbelief to fear and anger when it was all but over, words like racist, sexist, and liar have pushed us to a point of numbness about our own country that we live in.
But we need to think about what really happened here. Four years ago, eight years ago, some people were less than impressed that Barack Obama won. Some wanted Hillary Clinton to win in 2008 and then Mitt Romney in 2012. It didn’t make one lick of difference though. Obama was still the president and Republicans, Democrats, Independents, and the apolitical had to suck it up and deal with it.
Our country is a democracy and that means the political process works through a democratic system. Part of the great benefit and privilege it is to select “U.S. citizen” on every application we fill out is that we get to see this process in play every four years and we get to play a small part in it. Hillary Clinton herself has graciously urged all of us to abide by the democratic system and unite behind the obvious leader of our country, Donald Trump.
You are not God. You do not have infinite power. You are also not special. And I’m sorry that makes you want to take your marbles and run to another country. If you can’t bring yourself to face a new day because Hillary lost then perhaps we should see you on the ticket in four years.
There’s a give and take in the political process. But some of you won’t realize or even accept this until the end of January after Trump has been sworn-in and the dust settles. The Democrats had their turn in the White House and in Congress. The pendulum now swings back to the Republicans and all need to work together to make good things happen in America “for the people.” Trump said it right in his victory speech, it’s about “us” now.
Despite the fact that your candidate did not win, you are still blessed and should be grateful for at least the democratic process working itself out. But the country is much bigger than the presidency. It is much bigger than Congress. It is much bigger than any one person.
Politicians are imperfect human beings just like you and they are capable of any vice imaginable. The only thing different about them is that they get the privilege and great responsibility of running our country. But the will of the people will cause the same thing to happen to Trump as has happened to Obama. If Trump doesn’t keep his word and do what is in the best interest of all Americans, then “the people” will be ready to reject him and demolish his legacy in four to eight years and you might have an opportunity to get your toys and playground back.
But until then, you need to live in reality and accept the facts: Donald Trump is the president of the United States whether you like it or not. And if you are a citizen of this country, he is your president too.