“It’s time. I pledge to every citizen of our land that I will be president for all Americans, and this is so important to me,” Donald Trump announced during his victory speech.
In stark contrast to Trump’s optimistic and promise-filled speech, University of Oregon students congregated around campus while chanting vulgar statements regarding our new president-elect.
These student protests blasted music and chants to express their extreme discontent for Trump, who throughout this election chastised an array of people from around the country.
As a whole, the protests around UO can be seen as a representation of the larger picture that is extreme anger and hatred of our next President of the United States.
However, due to the fact that Trump won the election, is it safe to say that UO students are a part of the minority who do not approve of Trump?
According to the election exiting polls from the New York Times, Clinton claimed 55 percent of the millennial vote as opposed to Trump’s 37 percent. What this means is that the general feelings of extreme dislike for Trump is expressed by the majority of millennials — even though Trump still won the presidency.
The anger from this presidential election poses the issue of whether millennials are going to allow this unsatisfactory election divide the country. Or are they going to take this chance to mold a new American Dream through political activeness, continued inclusiveness and open-minded cooperation?
Although there are deep divides within this country, there is an important point to remember: We are all Americans.
As Americans, we can protest our discontent; however, there must come a time when we unite and settle our differences.
On the other hand, if we instead decide to obstruct progress, America may become lost in violence, uncompromising arguments and ultimate despair. If obstructiveness and noncooperation is the avenue we take, we will become exactly what we hate — we will become a population that is slowing down political progression.
The inability to cooperate causes more trouble than it’s worth due to the fact that it causes people to exit politics by closing their eyes, ears and hearts to any potential for a positive change.
The success of our political system has been and will continue to be rooted in cooperation. With that said, although we may not be happy that the Republicans will now control Congress and the presidency, we must look for ways to unite together as opposed to focusing on our differences
Despite Trump’s continuous rhetoric that demeans diverse groups throughout America, he spoke words of truth in his victory speech, stating, “…it’s time for America to bind the wounds of division; [we] have to get together. To all Republicans and Democrats and independents across this nation, I say it is time for us to come together as one united people.”
In the past year, this political cycle has been saturated with hatred and has identified division between Americans.
Along the line of this division, many millennials feel as though their voices have been neglected to be heard, despite comprising the largest share of American population.
However, there is a path forward. We must pick up the fragments of our crumbling system. We must remember that we are all Americans.
We must approach our future not with apprehension but with activism.
We must go forward promoting social change, not obstructionism.
We cannot submit to hindrances, but work through with cooperation.
As American millennials, we are capable of continuing our fight to create a positive change and finally have our voices heard.
Opinion: What Millennials should do under a Trump presidency
Zachary Moss
November 9, 2016
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