I am not racist. I am not homophobic. I am not sexist. I am not a misogynist. I am for free market. I am for stronger foreign policy. I am for small business. I am for my family. I am Republican.
With the results of the presidential election stirring up a vast amount of emotions, I think it is important to clarify something: Just because I am Republican does not mean I am heartless. The point of this is not to debate political policies. It is to highlight what it felt like to be a Republican college student the day after Donald Trump was elected president of the United States.
On Wednesday, Nov. 9, I went to class and in every single one there was a somber attitude. Pre-lecture discussions were filled with phrases like “I am scared for our future,” “I am scared to be gay,” “How did this happen?” and, by far the most bothersome, “People that voted for Trump are racist, sexist, misogynistic, homophobic selfish rednecks.” Even my professors opened class with the assumption that everyone was sad about the result of the election by saying things like, “Let’s not talk about last night. Ever,” or, “No class on Friday. I’m house hunting in Canada.”
Well, I was not sad. While I understand that many people found the result disheartening, I am happy that the Republican Party is in office for the next four years. I am happy that trade and markets will once again be free. I am happy that we are going to attack terrorism more aggressively instead of being walked all over. I am happy that jobs will be brought back into the United States. I am happy that small business owners will finally be able to reap the benefits of hard work and dedication. I am happy that I voted in my first presidential election as a Republican.
With that said, I am not racist, sexist, misogynistic or homophobic. My parents decided to raise my siblings and me closer to the city so that we did not grow up sheltered and ignorant of the diverse world around us. I have never once felt that I could not date or befriend someone because of their race, ethnicity or gender identity. For that, I am forever grateful to my parents foR the way they raised me.
The response to this election has made me, and many other college students who voted Republican, feel that we need to hide or downplay our satisfaction over our victory because of the fear that our opposing peers will label us. That is not right. The controversy surrounding both candidates during this election took voting based on character out of the question. In my opinion, neither candidate has outstanding character.
Silencing those who simply exercised their right to vote in our free nation violates the core principles for which our country stands. I am by no means saying that those who were not happy with the results of the election do not have the right to mourn. They absolutely do. However, I am saying that those who are content with the results should feel safe in expressing their joy and optimism for the future of this country without the fear of being ostracized.
I am a Republican. I still care. I am not heartless.
Cassie Hewlett is a third-year student major ing in business managment. She can be reached at CH844476@wcupa.edu.
just because you “aren’t” racist/homophobic/sexist is irrelevant due to the fact that those matters mean so little to you that you were able to vote for someone who incited violence against those minorities. with no repercussion!
i wonder what it’s like to be privileged enough to not have to worry about anything in life? it must be nice.
however, since i’m a minority, that’s not an option. and thanks to people like you, who claim to be open-minded towards minorities, still threw us under the bus this election. our safety is compromised because our lives meant so little to you, that voting for a man like Trump and Pence (who have outspoken about what they will do to minorities), didn’t change one aspect of your life whatsoever. you didn’t even think to consider what that meant for OUR lives!
we are no longer safe! thanks for voting against my existence! i really appreciate it
(btw you are indeed a racist/sexist/homophobe- sorry to break it to you. your vote this election showed how little you care for minorities)
Okay, but how are you going to claim you’re not racist when the person you voted for just picked a literal white supremacist for his chief strategist? ;/ Yikes!
You voted for someone who wants to strip millions of people of their basic human rights, but you’re not heartless? Hah, miss me with your ignorance!
PREACH
Dang, Cassie, how does it feel to be dragged into the ninth dimension?
“Silencing those who simply exercised their right to vote in our free nation violates the core principles for which our country stands.” No one has silenced you. You’ve decided you don’t like people’s reactions when you tell them you voted Trump. Other people don’t owe you their high esteem for everything you do that isn’t illegal.
Hi, I’m your friendly neighborhood Republican who DIDN’T vote for Trump. There’s more than a million reasons why, but if you’re still defending your decision this way, I doubt you’ll ever understand those reasons.
As someone with a younger brother with disabilities, I chose NOT to elect someone who thinks the special needs community deserves to be ridiculed.
As someone with friends in the LGBTQA community, I chose NOT to elect someone who threatened to overturn their marriages and rights.
As someone who is Pro-Life, I recognized that Trump did not place a high enough value on the lives of our current neighbors and friends, and I voted for a different Pro-Life candidate.
I still voted Republican. There was an independent, Pro-life, conservative candidate who ran Independent. I did my research before going to the polls, and my fellow Republicans who were rightfully ashamed of their major candidate did the same. We chose to be informed voters.
You could have chosen to vote against someone who spread hate and still aligned with your values, and you did not. That speaks louder than any response I can give you, and I hope you can reconcile your decision with those who are negatively affected by this presidency.
**said “Independent” one too many times, but my opinion stands
I wrote a similar article in The Quad about a week before the election called “Republican Shaming,” go check it out. I totally agree with you and everything you have written. Just as you are, i recieved many rude and hurtful comments under my article and even a few emails, but dont let it get to you. We have made valid points and should be honored for our bravery to put something so controversial out there.