There are polar opposite reactions flowing throughout America after last night’s outcome. Being a Republican woman on a college campus is not easy. The posts on social media making generalizations about what Trump supporters stand for along with American citizens saying they have lost respect for their own country is astounding to me. Additionally, the media did not help people gain true insight during this campaign.
People listen to what they hear, which is probably why so many fallacies have come to life over the course of this election. For example, people went into panic when the stock market fluctuated. Yes, it happened, but what was lost when the election was decided was made up when Trump made his victory speech. This shows that the world is watching America and that we have the ability to create an impact that reaches beyond our own experiences. People are coming to negative conclusions rapidly without analyzing the facts behind what the media reports to us. Of course, it is comprehensible that we will not always agree, but that is no excuse for people to attack those who support Trump. As Americans, we are entitled to our own opinions and the ability to express them freely. No American should be attacked for what they stand for.
To those that are “hopeless” at this point, do realize that we now have a Republican President, House, and Senate. It is also likely a Republican Senate will confirm one of Trump’s proposed nominees for Supreme Court justice. This means that we are escaping gridlock, and that changes can actually happen.
Trump is the first non-politician to be elected president since Eisenhower and this could not have been done if he was not fit. I see where people’s concerns lay, but think about it logically. As most businessmen understand, immigrants fuel the economy and clearly he holds value to improving the economy as a significant component of his presidency. The likelihood of Congress agreeing to something as drastic as building a wall would not be easy. I personally do think that illegal immigrants should have to go through the process of becoming a citizen because the ability to call oneself an American citizen is not something that should be taken lightly.
His confrontational approach to working with allies may sound scary, but think about it from the standpoint of a businessman- they must cooperate to get the job done. In addition, Trump’s presidency sets the deterioration of religious conservatism in politics because unlike one of his previous opponents, Ted Cruz, he does not go about his daily life with religious principles adhering to his every word and action. The lesser of two evils may have been the outlook of many voters, but there is something to be said in that Trump was able to acquire more African American and Latino support than Mitt Romney did in 2012.
Just as some of you are scared by what you think Trump is all about, I would be scared to have someone who’s trust has been in question throughout the entirety of the election in office. The way to ensure greatness starts with us. Kindness does not cost you a penny. You are going to be surrounded by the people you interact with each day at home or at school, not by Donald Trump. With mutual respect, that is where we will find the path towards making America great again. If we stand together, we are strong. Focus on what we can do, not what is out of our hands.