By (Saul Loeb/Getty)
It has been one year since the 2016 presidential election, a day when millions of Americans threw their support behind intolerance and pure hate. We need to take time to reflect.
This has been a year packed with Russian conspiracies, climate change denial, blows to Planned Parenthood and healthcare, the rise of white supremacy and threats of nuclear war. Though Trump and his utterly ineffective cabinet may leave most of us feeling like nothing has changed (other than headlines that seem pulled straight out of a political satire), we are still very much living in uncertain and even dangerous times.
The majority of us Americans barely feel the effects of this new government in our daily lives, but that does not mean Trump’s administration has stopped in its mission to target vulnerable members of our society. Since Trump took office, ICE raids have become more frequent, affordable healthcare is becoming less of a surety and Muslim Bans are being declared every few months. Poor people and immigrants, who deserve to be as safe, healthy and happy as anyone else, can no longer count on the government of “the greatest country on earth” to protect them.
But this situation is one we can handle. In the past year, through protest and petition, we have shown that we will not tolerate intolerance of all forms. Using our voices, we’ve had huge victories, like blocking of all three Muslim bans.
However, our work is far from over.
As time goes on we will get tired, but we’ll have to resist growing accustomed to all the Trump administration’s antics. We can’t normalize his behavior and consistent lying by viewing him just as a joke or someone we can’t control. Yes, Trump and his administration have power, but they work for us, and we need to remind them of that fact every day.
Overall, we have a lot to be proud of in this past year. Across the country and around the world, we galvanized millions of voices against hate. Now, we have to be prepared to keep the momentum in the movements we’ve started in the years to come.
Yeah, Zarina, I think your parents and your HS writing teachers should be proud of you. This is a nice mixture of optimism , and a dose of reality regarding the long road ahead. I think if more of us feel this way, we can /you can,,,,lol get things done BECAUSE Trump got elected. I almost always get more done through pain and suffering, than I do from being comfortable and satisfied with my life. For me this is sad, but true, I take on challenges because I am not comfortable,,,,but ha ha, I am seeking more comfort and love,,,,So, you guys there in the US of A hang in there are get organized and help each other,,,,3 more years and then another election…..but don’t focus too much on the presidency, look at the local level in your communities first.,