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Sunday, November 13, 2016

America - what have you done??

PixlrI really was looking forward to this election to be over, to finally get past all the craziness, all the hate speech, all the memes and propaganda on social media. But while deep down I was slightly nervous/concerned about the outcome I think I never really truly considered the possibility that Trump would actually end up being the next president elect. I think I just didn't have it in me to really consider that option and even now it's still hard for me to really come to terms with it. 

I understand that this is how the vote went and that this is how it's going to be but I am still having a hard time truly understanding it. I think it doesn't make it easier for me that Hillary actually won the popular vote and only due to the electoral college are we stuck with Trump. I am still not a 100% sure I understand/agree with the electoral college concept in this day and age. One of my friends posted a good video on it and while that video does make some good points I am still not totally convinced. But I am glad I watched it to at least try and gain a little more insight at least.

What concerns me is that a lot of people voted for him because they simply wanted a shake up. For one reason or another they didn't feel that they were being heard, their concerns falling on deaf ears and they wanted change, any change, no matter what that meant. And while I do understand people want things to be different that rhetoric also has me very concerned.

A lot of people also voted for him because they hate Hillary. I have heard more than one person say "Do I think that Trump is the best choice? Do I think he is the best person for the job? Well maybe not. But how can I vote for Hillary? I hate her with every fiber of my being". And I really just don't understand that. I don't understand that hatred people have towards her. I am not saying that you need to be in love with her or that she is the most likable person that ever existed. But really. There are a million and a half examples of horrible things Trump has said, done and/or tweeted, without even mentioning the whole "grab her by the pu***y" story. So you are totally ok with all of that? Hate speech? Fear mongering? Fat shaming? Racist? That's all cool? Really? Really? But Hillary you hate with every fiber of your being. Really? Really? 

I mean let's look at the facts. Let's look at what a Trump presidency potentially will mean for us in this country. If he gets his wish and repeals the Affordable Care Act/Obamacare people are going to lose their insurance. I understand Obamacare is flawed and not the best thing that ever existed BUT it's better than what we had before, which was nothing. The solution in my eyes should be to try and fix its issues rather than repeal it and go back to having no coverage for millions of people.

If he defunds Planned Parenthood, people are going to suffer. Planned Parenthood funding covers necessary services for millions of women across the country. And I am not talking about abortions, none of the funding goes towards abortions. Planned Parenthood does so much more. 

I am nervous about his stance on gun laws as well. We need someone in charge who is willing to implement stricter gun control. Mass shootings have become the norm. We can't just sit back and accept that. I went to a funeral after the Sandy Hook shootings in 2012 and thought "Surely a mass killing of elementary school children will spark something/change something" and here we are almost four years later. Has anything changed? No. It's gotten worse instead. 

His take on climate change as well as wanting to opt out of various international treaties will affect the whole world. A Trump presidency will have a much wider impact than just what happens inside the borders of the United States.  

He is also normalizing racism and intolerance of LGBT people which means people are going to suffer. It's not hyperbole. It's fact. There are already reports coming from across the country of POC and LGBT people being harassed and assaulted in the name of the new normal. Having Trump as the president elect has made it ok to be hateful and racist. 

I really want to believe that I am wrong. I want to be hopeful and I want to think "Well maybe he will surprise us all" but somehow I am just having a really hard time believing that. I want to think that somehow this divided country can come together and I will give him a chance. I will sit back and wait to see what he does. But deep down I am very concerned. I am worried and uneasy. 

Letter/Mail Update: Received a letter/owe a reply to: Eloine/NY and Bianca/Germany.

Posted by Hanna at 03:42 PM in Current Affairs | Permalink

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