The Election

My reaction, shock. I think that I had mixed support for both candidates regarding many issues, but I never thought that Trump would actually make it to the presidency or past the primaries (tbh), So when my look of shock, hurt, and betrayal by half of my nation was apparent on my face for the 4 and a half hours I watched the TV screen as Hillary's defeat became more and more apparent, my mom leaned over to me and said it's okay I know you have a little democrat in you. I'm out of the closet.... I'm officially a moderate conservative. Okay, so not too exciting but considering my entire family had varying degrees of smiles on their faces tonight tells me that being a moderate is like being the odd ball out in my family. Frankly, I am happy that a Christian VP will be in office and that the Supreme Court will remain balanced. I am disappointed how far back feminism has been placed, and that our country supported an alleged rapist over a strong female candidate. But there is nothing to do now, and the vote that I made either way would have left me feeling similarly. But I think that the world and half of American voters feel that we have had the carpet ripped out from under us by a man who had no shot at winning... How this happened, we can only postulate and I will pray for him and our country moving forward. 

I will not say that I am happy with the results. When I looked at my ballot and thought of Trump, his words of misogyny ran through my mind. And, yet, I vehemently disagree with some of Hillary Clinton's stances on political issues. Still, the thought of having a woman so close to the white house made me extremely happy and hopeful for our nation and woman's equality. I hope to see a female president by the end of my lifetime, and one that I might be able to more passionately support in her political views. But, for now and for the sake of our country, I will support Donald Trump for the good of the American people. Woman's representation in the political arena made huge strides last night with several elected senators and congress women, but we have a long way to go. The battle for social change does not end here... it simply shifts with the tide of our nation. And that nation has chosen to support Trump.

In conclusion, I leave with these words as the salve of my own disappointment and millions of others regarding the image of women that our nation has chosen to condone...
​

"And to all the little girls who are watching this, never doubt that you are valuable and powerful and deserving of every chance and opportunity in the world to pursue and to achieve your own dreams."  
-Hillary Clinton 2016 Concession Speech (Nov. 9, 2016)

​

​​Sincerely,
Sienna Pagett