I’m taking a break from being educational and trying to inspire. This is purely about frustrations I’ve had.

The United States of America elected Donald Trump. I’m sure we all know this by now. I’m also sure we all know a lot of people aren’t happy about it. Well this is what I’ve been wanting to say. Suck it up!

I don’t support Trump. I don’t like the way he ran his campaign. He appealed to the lowest common denominator across the country and preyed on people’s fear and ignorance to exploit loopholes in the system. But here’s the thing….It worked.

Complain about the Donald all you want, he played this campaign like a game of chess and he won. But to the people out there who are blaming the stupid, ignorant and bigots, you shoulder the blame as well. Every person helps to shape a country, and you’ve shaped one built upon the fear engine who worship superficial ideals and live in denial of how the world views them.

What is that view exactly? First of all let me say, I realize this is a stereotype and it’s not true for all. I’ve spent a lot of time in the US and I met some amazing people, saw beautiful sites and had experiences I will cherish my whole life. I have Americans close enough to me I consider them family, and I even envy aspects such as the space program. However America, the world views your country as a singular entity. And that entity is stubborn, xenophobic and ignorant with a god complex. Every time you say “America is the greatest country in the world” you’re saying it’s okay that racism still runs rampant, that women earn 78% of what their male counterparts do, that you’re 7th in literacy rate in the world, that according to the OECD you have the highest poverty rate in the developed world! I could go on like this, but the fact of the matter is America is not the greatest country in the world.

Don’t take this as me saying Canada is. We have our own problems and things we need to improve upon. But we don’t blindly ignore that fact and tell the world we’re better than all of them. It’s good to be proud, but that doesn’t mean you have to be pig headed. The first step to fixing a problem is admitting there is one, and like him or not, Trump seems to be one of the only people willing to do that.

Now, is Trump the one to “make America great again”? I don’t know about that. I do think a lot of what his campaign stood on will prove to be lies, promises he can’t fulfill and/or publicity stunts. However this is what it all boils down to. Trump is the president-elect, and that is not going to change. If he is as bad as people think he will be it could mean trouble for your country, and being a force divided will only make that worse. Now is the time to come together as a nation and support each other. Stop allowing ignorance to spread across the country. Talk to each other. Have dialogues instead of screaming insults and hate at each other. Encourage education in those around you, not just about science or social issue, but of the electoral process as well. Know exactly who and what you’re voting for. Maybe when more people understand it properly change will come…because that mess you call an electoral system needs some change.

Donald Trump will be your next president. Now stand up and show the world that you can be great again. Regardless of what propaganda says, your country is in your hands, don’t let it slip through your fingers. Of course, that’s just the humble opinion of this Canadian…