Divisions
In light of the emotions evoked due to the results of the 2016 Presidential Election, Verdadera decided to make a survey asking students to share their feelings about Donald Trump becoming the 45th president. We received many emotional responses, all differing in opinions. We attempted to capture the variety of opinions we received to the best of our ability. The variety of very emotional responses received were reflections of the current state of country: divided. Divided by our views, our intentions, our priorities, and our biases. In sharing these different perspectives, we hope not for consensus or uniformity, but understanding and respect, as we share the same country, the same home. Editor In Chiefs, Maddie Park & Adriana Getman Further Recources Monta Vista Student Advocate Richard Prinz is an available on-campus resource for students seeking guidance in any areas, extending to personal well-being, close relationships, and more. All conversations remain confidential unless doing such compromises safety. LGBTQ+ Hotline: (866)-488-7386 National Suicide Prevention: 1-800-273-8255
What are your feelings and/or concerns regarding Donald Trump becoming the 45th President of the U.S? “I was originally completely shocked and everything seems surreal. The past months have just felt like a comedy or a drama to me and realizing that it is actually happening made me rethink things. Im scared because I have no idea how he will change the country or what is to come of our lives. I felt especially sad because I realized that I’m going to spend Trump’s presidency in college. I have recently realized that, although our lives may be changed because of this, it is necessary for us to accept the fact and make the best of it. To stop worrying about what will happen and start making an attempt to increase my potential to make our country a better place during the potential dark time ahead of us.” “I feel like people have been fed all this rhetoric of Trump as a sexist, racist, homophobe etc. While a lot of this can be justified given some of his comments or actions, people are taking this election way too personally. In the end he’s just someone who’ll sign (or veto) legislation and try to secure/ strengthen the country. He may succeed, he may feel, but in the end America will still be what it was before the election. That being said, the election did reveal some deep divisions within American culture. Hopefully the next President can work to unify and heal these divides.”
“I personally wouldn’t be affected too much, considering my background. I am much more worried for my acquaintances and close friends. I was texting one of them, and they are scared out of their minds. The result also created a climate of division and hate, which was started with the election of a candidate who based his campaign off of those very things. I am immensly concerned and genuinely frightened for some very important people in my life who will be affected by the Trump presidency, if the president-elect goes forward with the shocking policies he put forth. I am also concerned for the country as a whole, which is now consumed by sadness, confusion and anger (something I have felt to a very high degree) which can only lead to further division. Let’s hope there is a peaceful transition if power, and I pray that Legislature can control the president elect, especially if he behaves like he has during his campaign.” “This is not good. The Republican Party, an international disgrace, has control over all the branches of government. When famed political commentator Noam Chomsky was asked what a Trump presidency would mean, he said it was “a death knell for the human species.” One only needs to take a look at his stances on climate change to see this is fairly certain. What’s necessary now is a purging of the modern Democratic party--the establishment neoliberals must be kicked out and populist progressives must take their place. The country, and the world, are counting on that.”
“Lesser of two evils. Can’t do s*** even with republican congress. Liberals need to calm the f*** down. All the “I’m scared to....” posts are idiotic and overdramatic. You’re not going to die if you’re gay. Everybody who claims that we’re f***** is an ignorant and spoiled bitch who doesn’t know how the American government works. Please at least read the constitution before spewing out bulls***. Also, you say anybody who voted Donald Trump was racist, xenophobic, etc, but you’re making the same racist generalization that, just because somebody voted Trump, he is a white male. Please stop embarrassing this country harder.” “I was just in disbelief. I couldn’t understand how America could have voted for a man who is not only so unqualified but also clearly has no respect for women, minority groups, the disabled etc. It’s extremely frightening to think that so many Americans find such behavior irrelevant or even acceptable. I really felt heartbroken. Though I get that people wanted an outsider in the oval office - someone who could bring change, what makes Trump more trustworthy? Is it because he speaks his mind and is not “politically correct”? I don’t think so. I feel it is utmost important that our president is good role model, particularly for our children which Trump most definitely isn’t. I have been hearing about all the racist outbursts and hate crimes that have been taking place across our country after Trump’s victory. With a president who encourages this kind of discriminatory and violent behavior all I can say is that I’m scared. Really really scared about what is to become of our nation.” “I remember hearing my dad tell me in the early afternoon to finish my homework early to watch history being made. As the evening progressed I realized that he was right; history was being made but not in the way that we had hoped. The next day, I was listening to Hillary Clinton’s concession speech as I was about to leave for school. When she addressed the young women listening to her speech and urged them not to give up hope for a better future I felt tears pool up in my eyes. Tears of sadness yes, but also tears of determination. Determination to prove her and all the other disenfranchised women that we can overcome this difficulty; we have to.”
“Although either way would result in hate and joy for America, I personally felt indifferent, as opposed to many others in the Bay Area who were devastated and angered to know that Trump won. In ways, my classmates and their reactions intimidated me with my statement of being indifferent about the results since they all stressed how “Clinton is way better than Trump,” “how could you put them on the same level”, etc. I felt as if, although I don’t really care about politics, my freedom of expression was being oppressed due to the vast support of Clinton here in the Bay Area. Those who do support Trump are excluded and demanded to forfeit their position just because of their political standpoint. I believe everyone is entitled to their own views, and, I mean, we ARE supposedly the land where we are given freedom, and this freedom applies to freedom of our own thinking. Frankly, people are behaving very un-American-like as of now with even the slight idea that, well, Clinton may not be one’s first choice being immediately shunned upon and those people are forced to suppress their own thoughts and opinions because of the behaviors of the people surrounding them. I feel like this whole election has been a mess and it has affected me on a personal level with my feeling uncomfortable even talking about politics to my classmates with the fear of them trying to imprint their opinions onto me.”
“It just doesn’t make sense. I really thought Hillay had this in the bag. The slient Trump majority really screwed everything because the media didnt know or ignored them. It was just a shock. I fell into tears to see a bigot become President. He is not my president. I really thought we could continue the Obama legacy and keep making progress. Now, everything is gone. It sucks when you see Hillary have the popular vote and lose. I was really looking forward to a woman president, but I saw yesterday that it will probably never happen in a long time. I just don’t understand how he’s president. We are in for a ride.. These next 4 years are going to be uncertain and troubling- recessions, violence, hate, you name it. I am disappointed in America, but I will soon come to accept the terms, but just not yet. I need time to heal from this loss.”
“I have been so devasted for the last few days, it makes me physically sick to my stomach to think that our PRESIDENT makes me afraid of my own gender. Women now have to watch out more than ever, because now the #1 role model in our entire country views women as nothing more than brainless sex objects. I am so terrified at how divided our country is, and do not want to grow up a world where we have a racist, homophobic, and xenophobic white supremacist as our president.” “Emotionally I was rooting for Trump to win, because I’m going to college and worried about increasing political correctness (intellectually I know it doesn’t affect me **that** much, but it does freak me out worrying that something bad will happen to me if I speak my mind on, for example, being a Trump supporter). I agreed with Trump’s foreign policy whole-heartedly and with immigration and tariffs/protectionism about 50%, and I basically had no opinions on domestic policy (whether we should kill Obamacare or not, etc.). I’m worried that so many at MV seem to be so scared, even though it seems like an overreaction to me, and I hope the president-elect Trump does **something** to bridge the partisan divide and quell the fear that I see.”
“I am UTTERLY shocked. I am disgusted at the people of the United States who actually believe Donald Trump could possibly be our next president. He is a completely unqualified racist who has no place being on the ballot, let alone in the White House. What is completely baffling to me is the fact that within a month of being elected President of the United States of America, Trump is going to be in court facing rape charges. How could America do this? I am honestly terrified for this country. I don’t know what is going to happen next, but I am scared it’s going to hurt everyone, even people I know. I have Muslim and Latinx friends. I fear for them. I have already heard stories from them of being harassed on the street because of rhetoric Donald J. Trump (ahem, sorry “President Trump”) used while on the campaign trail. And they live in California. I. am. terrified. I am so angry that all the progress we have made for women equality and rights may disappear. We can not be taking steps back in that fight. I support Hillary not only because I genuinely believe she would have made a good president, but because I believe America NEEDED her to break that glass ceiling. We have had 45 male presidents. The ratio between men and women is nonexistent. That is not good enough. A women president would have been... amazing. It would have inspired girls all across the nation because she would have shown them that women can do anything, even become President of the USA. Trump doesn’t even believe in CLIMATE CHANGE. How stupid can someone get? There are studies by actual scientist who know what they’re talking about and have evidence for it, but no. Donald Trump posts one single tweet about it being a ploy made by the Chinese, and people believe him. I called him “President Trump” before, but let’s get one thing straight: he will never be my president.”
Brought to you by the Verdadera Team: Advisor: Hung Wei Editor-In-Chiefs: Adriana Getman and Maddie Park Design Head: Cheri Zhou Design Team: Apoorva Sirigineedi and Carolyn Duan Head of Web Design: Saagar Godithi and Akhil Palla General Staff: Olive Wu and Advait Gadre