It has been eight days since the impossible happened; Donald Trump is our new president-elect. As shockwaves vibrate throughout the country, we are left with what seems to be a simple question: What do we do now?
As simple as this question appears to be, it is difficult to answer and the best way to do so is to first answer what we should not do.
As a country, we should not let this election divide us more than it already has. We do not leave the country because it is now more important than ever to stand united and act as one rather than a million little fragmented pieces. We should not incite violence or hate against anyone of any race, religion, or political standpoint. Over the past year, we have let hate come out of the shadows and terrorize this country too many times, it’s crucial that we stand up to hate and the people spreading it. But, we do not do this through name calling and shaming; we educate one another and understand that everyone has different opinions and we can agree to disagree on certain issues. Most importantly, as much as it pains me to say it, we cannot make Trump’s job harder than it already is. He says he will build a wall and prevent Muslims from entering the country, and the only way to truly prevent him from proceeding with his plans is to cooperate and debate with him; to make him hear us loud and clear.
So, with that said and done, what should do we do now? We follow Bernie Sanders example and agree that “To the degree that Mr. Trump is serious about pursuing policies that improve the lives of working families in this country, I and other progressives are prepared to work with him.” We listen to Hillary Clinton when she tells all young women to “never doubt that you are valuable and powerful and deserving of every chance and opportunity in the world to pursue and achieve your own dreams.” We listen to Obama’s pep talk and agree to “not only stay engaged, but to push ourselves to do better” and remind ourselves that “the sun will rise in the morning.”
We cannot forget that the reason Trump was elected is because he represents change. If America wants change so badly, then we create it. We rebuild America from the ground up and make it a place that everyone can call home.
So America; what do we do now? Best stated by David Remnick of the New Yorker to “combat authoritarianism, to call out lies, to struggle honorably and fiercely in the name of American ideals—that is what is left to do. That is all there is to do.”
Like this article? Here are some related ones!
- An open letter to the college woman who still supports Donald Trump- http://www.hercampus.com/school/sonoma-state/open-letter-college-woman-who-still-supports-donald-trump
- She’s not bossy, she’s a boss: A reflection on double standards-http://www.hercampus.com/school/sonoma-state/shes-not-bossy-shes-leader-reflection-double-standards
- Why Students Are All For Bernie Sanders-http://www.hercampus.com/school/sonoma-state/why-students-are-all-bernie-sanders