I’m frustrated, I’m disappointed and I’m tired. This was the longest election cycles I’ve ever experienced and while I’m happy it’s over, I’m not thrilled at the outcome. A man who has no political or military experience is now holding the highest office in this nation. This man has made so many xenophobic, homophobic, racist and misogynistic comments throughout his life and especially this campaign and he was rewarded for it. How can I tell my nephews and nieces that bad behavior shouldn’t be rewarded when this country has essentially done that? I know that God’s in control in the end, but He gave us free will and this is what people chose to do with it? Wow. I’m aware of the fact that the president doesn’t have the final say-so, that there’s a checks and balances system; so I’m just praying that even though the House and Senate are Republican they hold him accountable and don’t set us back as a nation even further.
I have loved ones telling me that they’re scared. Scared that they might lose their healthcare benefits since one of the first things Trump wants to do is get rid of Obamacare. Scared that they might lose their reproductive healthcare benefits because he also wants to defund Planned Parenthood. Scared that Trump might just bring back the systematic racism that is “stop and frisk” even though it was ruled unconstitutional. Scared that their marriage may no longer be legal. Scared of the racists, bigoted, homophobic misogynists that have come out of the woodwork during this campaign. I have folks scared that love might not trump hate this time because of what’s transpired these last few days. I want to tell those people to fear not, that God hasn’t given us a spirit of fear, but if we’re being honest I’m scared too. I’m scared that if we don’t all ban together, all of us minorities and make sure that our voices are heard via our local representatives then this nation will be set back. Everything that President Obama and his predecessors worked so hard to achieve will be thrown by the wayside.
Now for all of those saying that they’re moving to Canada since Trump’s been elected, let’s calm down. I think Justin Trudeau’s so fine and I love Toronto (I actually planned on relocating there before this whole election cycle), but let’s be honest y’all aren’t moving. You’re going to do what we’ve done in the past and buckle down, take care of our homes and stand together as a nation. We might not all agree on our leader, but we do agree that this country has come too far to be divided now. Now’s the time to make sure that your local reps have your best interest in mind and they do their job. Now’s the time to come together as communities and show the rest of the world that we’re not weak and that we’re united in the midst of this chaos.