Editor reflects on why respect is crucial in next four years

Some may call it a nightmare; some may call it a dream come true. Some may be full of hatred; some may be bursting with joy. Some may have already started a count-down; some may be celebrating. Regardless of how one describes or views the 2016 Presidential Election, one thing remains clear; President Donald Trump will be the leader of The United States of America for the next four years.

I missed the cutoff to vote by six days, so I was unfortunately ineligible to vote in this presidential election; however, my interest in the candidates and the fate of our country wasn’t diminished merely by the fact that I couldn’t vote. Regularly reading articles regarding the candidates’ status in the polls, watching each Presidential Debate on CNN, and paying close attention to class discussions, my understanding of US politics undoubtedly grew, and I formed an educated opinion regarding the two presidential candidates.

While my political knowledge increased and I followed the presidential election, I admit that I am no expert; by no means do I fully understand the policies that the candidates had discussed, nor did I involve myself politically in the community; however, that does not mean I can’t form an educated opinion.

With that said, I’ve been focusing significantly on the reaction of the American people, and it’s clear that a large portion of the population will not be illustrating an ounce of respect for President Trump, which is a bit troubling. I’d like to take a moment to explain the importance of respecting the new President, although one may not agree with his leadership in the country.

He was elected fairly under the democratic system established by the Founding Fathers of our nation. As a citizen, I have trust in that system, and I believe that at the end of the day, the people have spoken. While some may disagree greatly with the outcome, it’s important to accept a loss; one of the two candidates had to win and one had to lose.

By no means has this election been pleasant, and I find it concerning that the two presidential candidates lacked an ability to demonstrate respect not only for each other, but also others as well. However, the victory of President Trump doesn’t justify an outburst of explicit language, violent protests, or blatant disrespect by those who don’t favor his election to office.

Such behavior in the time of a major conflict of interest usually proves to be ineffective. While it’s on a smaller scale, think of a school, and the balance of power within it. Naturally, students are expected to demonstrate respect towards the staff members in the building, not because the staff wants to rule the student body, but because of the staff members’ position that they worked for and earned.

While most of the staff in schools prove to be successful educators, a few may struggle with how they express themselves and relate to their students, which may lead to a large group of students that hold an extremely poor view of that staff member. However, what’s important to note here is that students are expected to maintain that balance of respect, despite their opinions. Exhibiting such behavior allows situations to be dealt with professionally and effectively.

At this point, you might be wondering how I could possibly relate President Trump’s leadership in the United States to students disliking a staff member in their school. Also, I recognize that the extent of the problems that I compared differ significantly, but I believe that it establishes the point I want to make; maintaining a certain level of respect towards President Trump is necessary for a successful next four years.

I see this situation very clearly; if one opposes President Trump, there’s no problem with that, because everyone is entitled to their own opinions. However, the situation is complicated when the respect is lost.

One will have a more effective impact not only in politics, but also in everyday life, if a level of mutual respect is maintained for everyone. Having the ability to approach our country’s new leader and call him President Donald Trump, instead of Donald Trump, will prove to have an impact itself. Acknowledging the fact, working effectively to compromise, and getting politically involved will have a more appropriate and stronger outcome than cultivating a stronger hatred towards President Trump while he leads the country.

Sitting at home on the computer ranting on social media, creating memes, and bashing the nation’s new president is senseless; nothing will be achieved, and the people’s ability to respect a fairly elected official will diminish. With that said, I’d like to encourage more respect exemplified by the people during the next four years. If the country can work together and voice their views to President Trump, maybe his first term won’t seem like such a nightmare.