Years from now, the disarray of the 2016 presidential election will likely appear even more disturbing to those who come after us. I genuinely hope that in the years to follow, our nation evolves into a more inclusive, diverse, and enlightened society. The history books will not be gentle on Mr. Trump’s candidacy; his legacy will serve as a troubling mark on the timeline of modern democracy.
I envision a time when our children will learn about the harmful acts perpetrated by Trump and the turmoil left in the wake of his toxic campaign. They will look to us, the witnesses of the 2016 election, and seek to understand our feelings and, more importantly, what actions we took in response.
When he questioned the birthplace of the sitting president without reason, did we recognize the underlying prejudice? When he ridiculed a disabled journalist, did we stand up for the differently abled? When he proposed to register an entire religious group, did we draw connections to historical injustices? When he openly bragged about sexual assault, did we condemn this behavior as criminal and unacceptable? When allegations arose regarding the assault of a 13-year-old, did we find it plausible given his reputation? When he disrespected veterans and POWs, did we demand respect for those who served? When he bullied women, did we let his comments slide? When he labeled Hispanic immigrants as criminals, did we challenge his statements? When he gained the backing of white supremacist groups, did we consider the implications? When numerous women came forward with allegations of assault, did we prioritize their voices over the fast-paced news cycle?
When former associates claimed they had been wronged by him, did we question his business integrity? When he attacked a fallen soldier’s Muslim family, did we recognize the Islamophobia in his remarks? When he incited violence at his rallies, did we champion the right to peaceful protest? When he censored and sued media outlets, did we acknowledge the risk to our First Amendment rights? When he aligned with conspiracy theorists and propagated falsehoods, did we pursue the truth relentlessly? When he suggested war crimes as a candidate for commander in chief, were we appalled? When he dehumanized refugees in crisis, were we ready to help those in need? When he spoke recklessly about nuclear conflict, did we feel a sense of fear? When he claimed the election was rigged before it even occurred, did we defend the integrity of our democratic process? And when we observed the frequency of his lies, did we reflect on how he could be seen as trustworthy?
I can picture our children someday asking us these questions, sitting on the edge of their seats awaiting our responses, just as we once did with our own parents about difficult periods in history. We all want to believe that our predecessors stood on the right side of history.
I imagine they will come to understand Trump’s campaign for what it truly was: a display of lies, bigotry, and hatred that saddened the nation. They may be disheartened to learn that he had a significant number of supporters within the Republican Party and will likely come to realize they know people who backed him. Then, they will look into our eyes and boldly ask if we were among those supporters. When we affirm that we were not, they will want to know what we did to prevent his rise.
What did we do to stop Trump? That is a question I believe future generations will pose to us. Many of his supporters took pride in his outsider status, and to some extent, they were correct. He had never held elected office before running for the presidency. I find it difficult to classify him as a Republican—not only for his inconsistency on issues but also because I believe Republicans can be better than this. This isn’t merely a political issue; it is a matter of basic human decency.
So, when we are asked one day what actions we took against Trump, I hope to say that we united as a nation to tell him he was wrong. We recognized that America is already great. After overcoming his campaign, we embraced the diversity, resilience, and kindness that truly define us. We refused to let his bigotry represent our values. Despite the embarrassment of having someone so reprehensible so close to the presidency, we learned from the experience and vowed not to let it happen again.
And of course, we made sure to show up on election day.
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Summary
In contemplating the future, we must reflect on the actions we took during the tumultuous 2016 election and how we will respond to our children’s inquiries about our role in combating the divisive rhetoric and behavior exhibited by Donald Trump. We hope to convey a message of unity, resilience, and the importance of standing against bigotry in all its forms.
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