Dear America
On November 8th, 2016, the true nature of the American people was revealed. The American people voted, and an orange-faced bigot became the next leader of the free world. Yet, while many were seen clutching their faces in agony, as the apparent reality began to set in, the real tragedy was left unrealized by many–the tragedy of the hidden American. As described by Massachusetts colonist John Winthrop, America “shall be as a city upon a hill, the eyes of all people are upon us. ” In the early 1600s Winthrop was able to predict the relevance of the nation he helped found, and his prediction certainly rings true today. The 20th and 21st centuries have seen the United States emerge through global conflicts and crises as one of the most powerful nations. Many attribute this to our democracy, our tri-cameral system of government and our reverence for individual’s rights; however, today,we do not stand amongst the other nations as a respected country, but rather as a mockery.
After 10 gruelling months of what many consider a propaganda battle, the American people were given a showcase of the exploitation of campaigning. We saw politicians reduced to speaking in slogans, and the rhetoric reduced to middle school name calling. The debates between Clinton and Trump seemed more as a squabble between children than a presentation of issues and policies. As a result, America was force-fed extremist ideals wrapped in bombastic hokum, which usurped notions of American welfare and betterment. This was not an election, but an inquiry–an inquiry into the caliber of the average American. The reason Donald Trump won is because there is a hidden American. The rural, blue-collar American who feels belittled by the progressiveness of liberal policy carried Trump’s vote. It isn’t just southern white males, as seen by Clinton’s overwhelming domination of major cities, in all regions. Unfortunately, the enlightened people of America were masked by a wave of uneducated sheep.
Yet this election has little to do with Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton. In absolute terms, these are just names that represent larger groups of people, and different ideologies. Trump’s implementation of Hitler-esque negative cohesion through the scapegoating of minorities revealed the dark subconscious of America. The prejudices and presumptions of those left in the dark of an ever changing era of technology and cultural movements were evoked by a pumpkin, who acted as a vanguard for their once muted voices. His brashness and rawness is what these people attach to. He speaks for what they truly believe, not what is politically correct. America is comprised of racists, but only to the degree that we allowed ourselves to be. Trump was not an enabler, but rather a reflection, or even a production of true American ideals. America is not just the bubble of right wingers in the East and West coasts, but in fact it’s mostly the average working individual who represents our government. We cannot lose sight of this reality. Our best self can only be as good as our ugliest, and this election was a manifestation of this ugliness.
Whether you support Trump or Clinton, or neither, recognize the implications of the result. Recognize that there is a large portion of Americans who would rather be led blindly by an angry, loud man that gives a voice to their pains, than afford the effort to generate their own opinions. Yet, likewise, Trump should not be vilified for representing the majority. He is a flawed candidate, but he is a product of the true beliefs of the American people.
Dear America,
We are not the greatest country in the world. we rank number 1 in incarcerated citizens, 14th in education, 19th in national satisfaction, 44th in health care efficiency, 66th in religious diversity, 23rd in gender equality, 2nd in approval of drone strikes, 46th in freedom of the press, 24th in literacy, and our infant mortality rate is behind 27 other 1st world countries. We are not the country we claim to be, and Donald Trump has exposed that fact. Nevertheless, we are a nation, one whole people, and we cannot lose sight of this. Politics will always be politics, yet this election was a terrifying epiphany of America’s true identity more than anything else. Those have yet to realize this laugh blue or red, yet the enlightened ones laugh for no one at all. We were dead before the ship even sank.
Fear not, Mr. Morris. With determined and passionate progressives, like yourself, who can use wit and a knowledge of history to show us all the intelligence that is brewing in your generation, we can have hope. All that is America exceeds the political America. With faith in generations to come, freedom will resist ignorance, and while there may be obstacles along the way, in a land where freedom roams, freedom will always find a way to progress. Stay progressive, Luke.