One-Year Later: Musings

If you’re reading my blog, then you’re probably at least semi-politically savvy, so you already know what today is the one-year anniversary of.

Unsurprisingly, I find myself disappointed in humanity today.

Many of my colleagues, classmates and friends posted today to celebrate or mourn the evening of November 8, 2016. My friends from the left side of the aisle had less than flattering words to share (but at this point in the presidency, I can’t say I disagree with their sentiments). However, I was more disappointed with members of my own party. My right-leaning friends shared now-infamous photos of Hillary supporters sobbing as they watched her Electoral College votes plateau. I saw captions along the lines of “hahaha look at all these libtards, grab your diaper and crawl back to your safe space” and “just feeling so #blessed that Hillary lost, I couldn’t stand another Clinton in the White House.”

Friends, why are we so quick to throw their tears in their faces? Why are mockery and name-calling our first reaction?

If the roles were reversed, we wouldn’t want the same thing done to us. If my top-choice candidate, someone I whole-heartedly believed could help America get back on track, had won the party nomination but lost the general election, I’d have spent that election night in tears too.

In case anybody forgot: Republicans won’t always be in power. Heck, our party lost some pretty important seats just last night, including the Ed Gillespie gubernatorial campaign in Virginia.

People may not remember the specific spats they’ve sparred over the years, but they will remember how they’re treated by individuals or groups. And if that individual or group treats them like they’re the scum of the earth, then the people who were once in the minority will take every opportunity to dish it back out when they rise to power. Right now, they may be in the minority, but that wasn’t the case too long ago and may not be the case in the very near future.

Be kind to people on the other side. They are not your enemy.

Questions? Leave a comment below and let me know your thoughts!

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Puns, Politics and PR is a blog used by 21-year-old Tori to express her thoughts on issues concerning politics, communications, faith and life.