One day, as the years roll on, the unsettling events of the 2016 presidential election will seem even more disturbing to those who come after us. I hold out hope that the years ahead will guide our nation toward greater inclusivity, diversity, and enlightenment. I doubt history will look favorably on Mr. Trump’s campaign, viewing it instead as a dark chapter in the story of modern democracy.
I envision a future where our children, learning about the shocking actions and rhetoric of Trump, will turn to us—those who lived through the 2016 election—and seek to understand our feelings and our responses. They’ll likely have pressing questions. How did we react when he baselessly questioned the birthplace of the sitting president? Did we see the prejudice in his comments? When he mocked a reporter with a disability, did we stand up for those who are differently abled? When he proposed registering an entire religious group, did we recognize the historical implications? When he boasted about sexual assault, did we call it what it is: a crime?
When confronted with accusations of heinous acts, did we dismiss them as implausible given his past? Did we demand respect for veterans when he disrespected those who served? Did we challenge his bullying of women? When he characterized Hispanics in derogatory terms, did we have the courage to speak out? When he attracted support from hate groups, did we question why? Were we attentive to the numerous women who accused him of assault, paying more than just cursory attention? When former business associates described their negative experiences with him, did we doubt his integrity as a businessman?
Did we recognize his Islamophobic comments when he attacked a fallen soldier’s Muslim family? Did we defend the right to protest peacefully amid the violence at his rallies? When he attempted to suppress media voices, did we consider the implications for our First Amendment rights? When he embraced conspiracy theories and peddled false narratives, did we pursue the truth relentlessly? When he suggested war crimes as a candidate, were we horrified? Did we extend compassion toward refugees during their time of crisis? Did we feel fear when he casually mentioned nuclear conflict? And when he claimed the election was rigged before it even occurred, did we defend the sanctity of our democratic processes?
I can imagine our children sitting with bated breath, eager to hear our answers to these questions, much like we once asked our parents about the turbulent times in history. They’ll want to know if we stood up for what was right.
I believe our children will eventually see Trump’s campaign for what it really was: a campaign fueled by lies and hatred. They’ll be saddened by the prejudice he reignited in America and disappointed to learn that he had a substantial number of supporters as the Republican candidate. The realization that they might know people who backed him will likely prompt them to look us in the eye and ask if we did the same. When we tell them we opposed him, they’ll want to know how we tried to stop him.
What actions did we take to halt Trump? Many of his supporters celebrate the fact that he isn’t a conventional politician, and they’re right. He has never held an elected position, despite running for the highest office in our nation. I struggle to label him a Republican, not just for his inconsistent stances and party affiliations but also because I believe Republicans are better than him. This isn’t just politics; it’s about basic human decency.
So, when the day comes that we’re asked what we did to thwart Trump, I want to be able to say that we came together as a nation and made it clear he was wrong. America is already great. After overcoming his divisive politics, we celebrated the diversity, resilience, and compassion that truly define us. We refused to let his bigotry represent our values. Though we might feel ashamed that someone so objectionable got so close to the presidency, we learned from this experience and vowed to prevent it from happening again. And we definitely showed up on election day.
In the end, I hope our children will learn from our actions and feel proud of the stand we took during such a critical time in our history.