On November 9th, 2016, history was made for a reason that a vast majority of Americans had feared.
After a grueling, cringe-inducing presidential race between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, the latter, Donald Trump became the 2016 President-Elect of the United States of America. Thus, America and many surrounding countries struck with equal amounts of fear fell into a collective state of despondency in digesting this outcome of this very unique election.
What has been decided, has been decided. The past cannot be altered. Many Americans spite the Electoral College for its archaic methods and wish for its removal. Had it not been for the Electoral College, Hillary Clinton would have won as she had won the popular vote.
Though, our system has elected Trump as the 45th President of the United States. Now, many Americans find themselves asking questions such as where do we go from here and can the future of our nation be righted in spite of the man who will be spearheading it for the next four years?
After Trump fills Obama’s space in the White House, there may be grave consequences for multitudes of people. People of color, those who find a place in the LGBTQ+ community, and immigrants alike are angered and fearing for their lives. America is becoming a more unsafe place for them by the day. That is not the type of climate the nation should be in following a presidential election.
The main thing that is striking Americans right now is fear. What Trump plans on doing while in office will have large implications that will span over the entirety of the nation and other nations likewise. He has an astoundingly shallow worldview and is using one of the biggest platforms in the world to pursue his own interests. Nothing about him is telling of his competence for being the next president of the United States, but that is who we elected.
If anything, this election has proven that America is much more bigoted and racist than many people believed. There have been sufficient amounts of evidence that has supported this notion. The racism and bigotry instilled within American culture and society have been the catalyst for racial tensions and tensions among the queer community that have proven to be deadly. Maybe the so-called progress being made concerning issues such as xenophobia, racism, and homophobia were never truly tangible.
Trump’s voters had the largest say in issues that simply do not apply to them which is exceedingly frustrating for people who will bear the brunt of Trump’s laws, bills, and other political instatements. It would be dangerous to turn a blind eye toward the motives of the Trump administration and compliantly watch as the country changes; most likely for the worst.
It is important to recognize that young people are much more politically capable than they are given credit for. Young adults had just as much say in this election as anyone else. The results of this election will have the most consequences for us especially. Teens and young adults have educated themselves on the nation’s political climate as the issues are extremely personal.
Politics are important to teens as it poses as a unique outlet for the expression of their views and beliefs. People are currently protesting in the streets against the results of this election just as Trump’s supporters gave their own silent protest in voting for him. Many people who just reached legal voting age in America voted for a change that they may be too young to realize the consequences of. This a change many people extol, but the majority cower at.
But this is democracy. And democracy is most powerful in the hands of those newly exposed to utilizing it.
