What Now?

I usually don't like to be talk about politics on this blog but in my heart, I feel like I need to write out what is occupying my mind lately. It has been a few days now since the election and everyone had time for the results to sink in. I think we are all still a bit of a shock though. Many people, especially from Europe, have asked me how it is going and I must say, nothing spectacular has happened. Life is the same but we are all tired and worn out. I'm just glad it is finally over. This whole election process was the dirtiest, most depressing as well as one of the costliest ever.  And our choices were not good on either side because both candidates came with a heaping of vulgarity and impropriety and so everyone voted for the one they thought might be the lesser of two evils.

And here we are today, with a new President-elect: Donald Trump. Despite the fact that, according to The Atlantic (magazine who only endorsed three presidential candidates in 159 years), Donald Trump "might be the most ostentatiously unqualified major-party candidate in the 227-year history of the American presidency", he won the election. (He is after all a reality TV star and billionaire real estate mogul, whose companies filed for bankruptcy six times.) Even though people voted and supported him, I don't think most of them believed he could win. In the end, Americans are fed up with the system and were looking for real change; something that could not come from a politician. Of course, electing a man who has no military or government experience whatsoever, supposedly assaulted multiple women and verbally degraded lots of them, harassed immigrants and insisted that the country's political machinery is "rigged", is baffling to me. But I do get why people were desperate for change and that they are in need for someone other than a politician to stand up for their rights. 

Despite the facts that the media is consistently covering this new development since international allies are growing concerned and financial jitters are expected, a few Anti-Trump protests are taking place and Southern Californians are calling for independence, the onslaught of hatred online has passed and it has been fairly quiet around our neck of the woods. No one really talks about the election anymore and everyone is just going on with their business. People do seem shell-shocked and not quite sure what will happen next. There is worry because of the unknown and the fact that Donald Trump is charismatic narcissist and so unpredictable but so far, Americans have survived 44 other presidents and we will survive this one too. 

And so, I don't understand why people "unfriend" each other just because their candidate didn't win or verbally assault each other on the internet because they believe that one supports a racist and the other a liar.  Despising each other publicly is not what our children should remember from this election and just because someone voted for Trump does not mean he is a racist or misogynist. The same holds true for Hillary: Just because someone voted for her does not mean that he condones lying under oath or obstruction of justice. Instead, we should accept the outcome of the election peacefully and support each other and the new President-elect. He might not be a person I like, agree with or respect very much after what he has done, but I respect the office of the President and what our constitution stands for.

So, what do we do now? We should come together and cooperate. Just as the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel said when she congratulated Donald Trump on his victory: "Germany and America are connected by values of democracy, freedom and respect for the law and the dignity of man, independent of origin, skin color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or political views. I offer the next President of the United States close cooperation on the basis of these values."  We should tell our children that they are safe and loved and that the democratic process will protect us. And that it is up to us parents to teach them to become responsible members of society and that above all, God is our leader and protector. But we should not accept the fact that anybody just can treat us however he wants to and stand up for our rights and be strong together. We should teach empathy and share kindness and make informed decision to support causes that a dear to our hearts.

I was frightened and worried on Wednesday morning, not only as a woman but also as a mother of a daughter and wife to an Africa American, but knowing that I'm not alone and that there are checks and balances in place to protect us, made me calm down. On the other hand, I do understand though why protests are happening all around the country because all kinds of people are afraid of the law and order talks or the possible gun reforms under Trump; the mocking of their heritage or harassment of their gender or sexual orientation. They are scared that they will be abandoned, deported, executed or assaulted just because the new regime does not see them as one of their own. Let's not have that happened. We are all belonging here and this country has always been there for its people and often was a new beginning for them. So, while we can't change the outcome of this election, we have to stay involved and on top of things and make sure that by standing up for each other and believing in the good of people. we are protecting all of our people because we are ONE NATION UNDER GOD!