A House Divided Part II

The election is over. The results are in. And yet, there is no closure, no peace. We are still very much a nation divided. 

People are shocked, saddened, disappointed, and even angry about the results. I will admit that I am as well. I did not vote for him. I could not.

Now, I understand why the people chose him. Well, technically, the people chose someone else, but the electoral college system has been in place for a long time. We can't accept it when it goes in our favor,  and then complain when it doesn't.

The American people have been angry for a long time. The country is still trying to crawl out of the recession. Hard working men and women lost jobs or saw their savings dwindle. They became incensed with the banks and resentful of billionaire CEOs. And they blamed the government for not doing more to protect the average person from the wolves of Wall Street.

Maybe some of it was religiously motivated. Maybe a lot of people felt like this country has become too liberal. Maybe they wanted someone who would repeal Roe v. Wade. And here was this man who said women who have abortions should be punished. Perhaps there are many who were opposed to gay rights. And here was this man who said he was opposed to national marriage equality.

Another thing I hear all the time is how America has become "wussified." That we're all too sensitive and easily offended and self-entitled.  And here was this man who said whatever he wanted, no matter how offensive. 

People wanted, needed change. They wanted something, someone different. They didn't want another politician who would make empty promises all the while lining his or her pockets with special interest money. And along comes this so called "straight shooter" who seemed the embodiment of a great big middle finger to the establishment.

I wanted change as much as anyone else. But not change simply for change's sake. And although our president elect made a lot of promises, I never really heard him outline specific steps he would take to make the sweeping changes he promised. I didn't hear about actual, logistically sound solutions. Add to that some of the very disturbing things he said and I just could not vote for him. I could not vote for someone who I saw as a racist, misogynistic hate monger.

I know some of you don't agree with me. 

You believe he is a good man, that you have to "see through the weeds," as one woman put it. You'll say he really isn't racist, that he denounced the support of the Klu Klux Klan. And I'll say that his rhetoric fueled them, emboldened them. I'll point to the recent flying of the Nazi flag and the countless displays of racist graffiti that have since sprung up around the country. I'll tell you about the attacks on Muslims and people of color since the election results.

You'll say he isn't sexist or misogynistic. You'll say he has a lot of female supporters. I'll point out that he refers to women in derogatory terms, and insults and attacks any who disagree with him. He calls women nasty, fat pigs, and dogs. I'll remind you how he said he could grab women by their genitalia because he was famous.  You'll say it's all just words, that men sometimes say things like that. Maybe you'll even call it "locker room talk." And then you'll say his opponent's husband did a lot worse than talk.

I'll say that his words have incited hate and violence. He once implied that his opponent should be shot. He also said his supporters should "knock the crap out" of people protesting against him and that he would pay the bail for those who did so. He said he could shoot someone in Times Square and he would still have support. Again, you'll say it's all just words. And I'll tell you that a leader's words can push people to act, whether good or bad, and so his or her words should be chosen more carefully.

We could go on like this all day. And while I may not agree with you, I will listen to your point of view and try to understand what motivates you to support this man. I would like to think that you would do the same and try to understand why I didn't vote for him. But maybe you wouldn't. Maybe you quit reading this after the first paragraph.

The point is that we are all different, and we will not always agree. As I said before, we have different lives, different experiences, different perspectives. Every election cycle, half the people are unhappy with the results. And while I don't like the results of this election, I wouldn't vandalize property or burn the flag or attack anyone I thought voted for this man. I don't think you can denounce the hateful rhetoric of someone, and then proceed to be hateful yourself. That not only defeats your cause, but it only further divides. 

I'm not saying people shouldn't protest. That is a protected right. This country was built on protests. And had this man's opponent won, I'm sure his supporters would be protesting. But the protests should be peaceful.

Now is the time we all need to come together. We may not agree, but we are all a part of this American family. We can't continue down this dark, divisive path. Hatred will only lead to our destruction. We need to stop shouting insults at each other. We need to stop looking down on anyone who doesn't agree with us. We need to figure out how to love and accept each other in spite of our differences.

I honestly hope that the president-elect is better than the campaign he ran. I hope his words were just words. I hope he seeks to truly do what is right and good for this country. And so, even though I didn't vote for him, I will support him, as he will be our President, and I love this country.

However, I must use my voice to call out to our future President, to beseech him to use his words carefully, to denounce the hate and violence that has been displayed on his behalf. I beg him to be a President of, and for the people. FOR THE PEOPLE, ALL THE PEOPLE, NO MATTER RACE OR GENDER OR RELIGION OR SEXUAL ORIENTATION.

UNITE THIS COUNTRY SIR. FOR YOU ARE PART OF THIS REASON IT HAS BECOME SO DIVIDED.