How about that election, amiright? It's hard to fathom how divided our country is. Putting aside all of my own opinions, views and preferences; taking myself out of the vote and just looking at the people of this country... I'm deeply saddened. People who supported Hillary Clinton and feared things they claimed Donald Trump to be; racist, sexist, violent, bigoted, and more, are doing exactly all of those things right now in response to his win. His fair win, mind you. If you can call all that the media and Hillary did to foil him, fair. They're rioting, lighting the American flag on fire, pulling people from their cars to beat them up under the "assumption" that they voted for Trump, spray painting monuments and more. All of the things they were against, are the things they're doing now. They resemble children who didn't get their way, and who are throwing giant temper tantrums. Many people considered the Hillary supporters to be the sort of people who believe themselves entitled to all things. They were said to be a generation who were so coddled, that they had to have "safe places" and needed trophies for 20th place because "it wasn't fair". They were called liberals who shoved their views and opinions down the throats of everyone around them, wanting laws and rules to cater to them rather than simply include them. Then it was said that the Trump win was the backlash from the majority finally having enough of that.
It's hard being someone who sits in the middle, and sees both sides. Listening to friends and family and strangers and hearing their opinions, views and fears, and understanding. Everyone wants change. But people are failing to realize that we're all really on the same side. We all want a safe and healthy world for the future of our children and grandchildren. We do want equality. We want a world of love and kindness. There are certainly extremists. There are definitely racists, sexists, bigots and ignorant intolerant blatant assholes. But those people are on both sides. Some of them, didn't even vote at all. We have to unite and come together as a people to make real changes. The president isn't going to make changes in your school, your neighborhood, or the relationships of you with your family and friends. It's still up to you to show the world love and kindness and to teach it to your children. We can successfully leave behind and even change the hearts of the bitter, hateful people who both voted for Hillary, and who voted for Trump. Violence, doesn't solve violence and hate only breeds hate. We can make a difference in the world, way more so than our elected president. People are putting too much faith in a single person to get things done in a world they want to see love, kindness and acceptance in. Especially by violently protesting the very system that allows all of that to be possible.
I've been thinking about almost nothing since the election, but the election and the things that have followed. I've been reading, and listening and watching. I've been thinking, feeling, hurting and fuming. It's been hard to place myself in firm decisions and opinions about what's been happening. I agree and disagree with so much at the very same time. I think that it probably isn't very far fetched to assume that I'm not the only person out there who feels this way. Or who would stand up and fight for people of color, members of the LGBT, our veterans, or anyone else who's basic human rights are violated or who isn't being treated with equality. I'm not the only one who wants bad people and evil things to end, while being open to loving and teaching love. I can't say too much, since I'm still finding my own feelings and opinions through this time, but I know that I can be a good person no matter what. I can choose to be a person who's filled with love and hopes for a good world and who takes opportunities to show that to people and help change hard hearts through kindness instead of hatred and opposition (considering that never works - why don't people see that?).
I think that's one of my biggest pet peeves. The soap box of social media where people seem to think that berating, belittling and slandering other people and things, will actually change their minds and opinions about something. My mother is a prime example of this. People need to realize that the moment you start to attack someone, they put up a wall. They go into automatic defense mode, and the things you say, even if you are a hundred percent right, will go in one ear and out the other while they're simply trying to defend themselves against your attack. People seem to forget that there are real human beings on the other end of that comment or post. The majority of the time, the things people say, they would never say to someone's face directly. Because that isn't how you should treat or talk to someone. Yet they become keyboard warriors on the computer, not giving any fucks about anyone else's feelings or views. If you want to change someone's mind or heart, start with gentle education, love and kindness. Otherwise you're wasting your breath and giving everyone gray hairs.
