The votes have been counted. The decision has been made. The 2016 Election is over.
Historians, academics, pollsters, and the Democratic Party will spend a lot of time and energy to figure out how Donald J. Trump became the 45th President of the United States.
While I will leave the speculation to them, I noticed that the 2016 Election revealed a number of things about America.
#1: Fear Abounds
No matter what political party you looked at, that party had fears.
The Republicans feared a Clinton administration that would continue ObamaCare, strip away the 2nd Amendment, stack the Supreme Court with ultra-liberal justices, and a whole lot more.
The Democrats feared (and some still are) that Trump will build that wall of his, deport millions, repeal ObamaCare, rape and pillage what ever women he wants, and a whole lot more.
The problem is, fear is not real. Fear is often False Evidence Appearing Real.
Fear of a Clinton presidency sent thousands upon thousands to run out and stock up on guns and ammo.
Fear of a Trump presidency sent thousands upon thousands to protest and riot.
As Yoda so wisely said “Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger.”
#2: Anger Abounds
Webster’s defines anger as “a strong feeling of displeasure and usually of antagonism.”
Many Trump supporters were, and are, angry with the way the government is running things. That was one area that Trump was a able to tap into and use that displeasure to turn out his base.
In the hours after the results were announced, thousands upon thousands to run out protest and riot in major US cities.
This anger and antagonism existed before the election and caused plenty of protests and hate filled speeches, FaceBook posts, etc.
This anger and antagonism is leading to active hostility and opposition. Look at the Twitter and #NotMyPresident.
The problem with this anger and antagonism is that it often leads to hate.
#3: Hate Abounds
Webster’s defines hate as an “intense hostility and aversion usually deriving from fear, anger, or sense of injury.”
That is certainly evident in the months leading up to the election and in the time since voting ended.
Overall, this hostility has been increasing with each passing year. This election seemed to intensify it.
The problem is that hate leads to suffering.
My Out Look
I pray that a President Trump “kinder and gentler” than the one we saw on the campaign trail.
I hope that supporters of Clinton are able to “accept this result and then look to the future. Donald Trump is going to be our president. We owe him an open mind and the chance to lead.”
If we don’t see these two things, we will have a lot of suffering.
While no one likes to suffer, suffering can lead to steadfastness and resolve to change.
Let us hope and pray that we are able to push fear aside, let go of anger and hate, so that we can live in peace with one another.
What was your take on the election? Leave your comment below.
What upset me was this a.m. while listening to public radio they played a clip of a male voice saying this (Trumps election) is what happens when Joe Sixpack goes to the polls. I think this is unfair bc the popular vote doesn’t elect the President the electoral college does. Joe & Jane Sixpack were simply expressing their opinion as they have every right to do.
I understand that people are upset. The good news is, this election is only the 5th time that a President has been elected without winning the popular vote. No one in 2016 won the popular vote. Both major candidates are around 47% to 48% of the vote. The genius of the system is that the Founders thought of this 225+ years ago.