2016, The Year America Opened Its Eyes

According to my archives, it would seem that the last time I posted anything on here was more than five years ago. Gasp!! I've been meaning to get back into it and to commit myself to making it more of a regular occurrence, even more than I have previously done. As 2016 is coming to a close, I figure there is no better time to do this, to reflect back on the year gone by and to look forward to the year to come. 

Many people would agree with me that although the year has flown by fast, 2016 has been a really bad year. One that we're so looking forward to leaving behind us in the hopes of not ever having to look back. We've dealt with many losses and blows -- everything from the loss of some of the greatest legends in entertainment and pop culture to the loss of who we are as people. 

With that being said, I would like to begin with the large elephant that has been taking up space in everyone's lives for the most part of last year. That elephant (pun intended), folks, is the United States Presidential Election.

I am not, and have never been, a person who gets into or even talks politics. But, as this election has done for so many others like me, it has struck a chord within that even people who avoid talking politics at all cost, just could not sit back and remain silent. Am I surprised at the fact that we really haven't come so far as we thought we have in regards to issues of equality? Yes, and no. It feels as if we've come a long way, sure, but I (being a minority myself) knew that these issues still existed. Did I know that the issues were still so deeply rooted and messed up? No way. I don't think any of us truly realized this, and yet sadly, this is exactly what this election has shown us. If there is anything that we are able to take away from this election, it is knowing that we've all been living one big, fat ILLUSION of being the best nation in the world. All of the things that many have fought so long and hard to achieve, from desegregation to women's suffrage to marriage equality, have been dug up and all of its ashes strewn violently all across our amber waves of grain. Our eyes have truly been OPENED and we, as a nation, are staring into one big, fucking mirror and the reflection we see is absolutely horrid.

There is so much to be said of this election, but I will only speak of the events that have occurred since Donald J. Trump was named the 2016 President-elect of the United States of America. Regardless of whose side you're on, the worst thing anyone can possibly do in a time like this is to let your emotions and anger get the best of you. I admit, I too, was upset and shocked by the final results (and for those of you who don't know, I also do not care for Clinton). The results threw my whole day off and I was infuriated. But now that the shock of it all has gone, I say we give our President-elect a chance. He deserves a fair chance just like anyone else. The things that have happened since we all discovered that Trump is now our President-elect is the fault of both sides. Whether you are blue or red, you've allowed your emotions to take over. I know that it's not easy to keep your emotions out of it, especially when you feel so passionate about your thoughts and what you believe in -- and that, in itself, is the problem. 

People were too passionate about their thoughts and what they believe in. We need to be able to push that aside for a moment and now reflect on what would be the best steps to take to achieve the outcome that WE WOULD ALL DESIRE. What is the lesson we would like for our children to learn from all of this? This election, sadly, has shown how very messed up we are as "the greatest nation in all the world". This last year, all we've been able to do is prove ourselves (to the many who already hate us or have prejudices against us), that perhaps we are the assholes they've thought us to be. Many see Americans as the righteous, pompous people who've invaded and taken over lands and claiming everything as ours and always shoving our beliefs down their throats (sounding very similar to what many say about some Christians), and now look at US. We've turned on each other and are doing it so vehemently and openly to the view of the entire world who either (still) look up to us in hope, or hate us, only to prove that we are no better than they are. We thought that because we're still such a young nation, we will learn from the faults of many before us and somehow dodge all of the things that "didn't work" and "weren't good" and would be able to avoid all the misgivings that many have suffered. Boy were we wrong and childish and naive! And now we must all come together and learn to TRULY GROW TOGETHER before we end up not only crushing ourselves and each other, but imploding on ourselves to the point that we will no longer be the greatest nation in the world... the UNITED States of America. For someone who is often very proud and patriotic as an American, I am ashamed right now. Violence, intolerance, or hatred of ANY kind is NEVER the answer. As I have been repeatedly saying all along this election, #unitedwestand #togetherwearebetter #letlovereign.