`Let’s Fix Our Country, Not To Tear It Apart’ (Donald Trump, President-Elect, U.S.A.

By: Joe Mauricio

 

This election year has been an exhausting parade of ugliness. It has also highlighted some fundamental truths about America circa 2016, lessons that political leaders should heed beyond November 8, 2016 election date.

They should address racism, bigotry and misogyny, and economic anxiety as many Americans are worried about their economic future as the most powerful nation on earth has become dangerously uncivilized. We are living through media-hype election that did not work in the end. Both candidates were headed toward electoral cliff of division and discord, fueled by an electorate seething with resentment and revenge.

There is no good precedent for our coarseness and vulgarity. Americans have survived and thrived despite a devastating civil war and global aggression. The world used to look upon our democracy with respect and deference, but the 2016 election has turned that to a mixture of amusement and disdain. Once you inject hyper-anger into civil society, it is almost impossible to undo that extreme negative emotion.

During the last three presidential debates, millions of Americans looked on in disgust, as both candidates refused to seek even a modicum of common ground, choosing smears over common ground. The result is hardly a mystery. Americans are fed up with the partisan conflict and political gamesmanship between a liar and a lunatic.

Today, November 9, 2016, Donald Trump was declared the winner of the highly contested election. What I saw on television is a different person…less victory speeches, more on personaly apology and compliments to the defeated candidate, and clarion call for unity, empathy, and understanding, trying to address the cynicism and heal the wounds during the campaign trails.

This is what we desperately need, in hearing the winner’s speech that goes like this….”My fellow Americans, I stand before you tonight, humbled. There is a greater honor to serve as president of the United States–no greater responsibility. Instead of your cheers, I ask for your silence so that I might speak directly to my opponent and to the people who are discouraged and disheartened at tonight’s election results.

Our political system has often drowned you out. Our economic system has often left you behind– but no more.

Throughout this election, we said things to each other that were harsh, negative, and inappropriate. Our divisive words too often distracted us from the challenges we have to solve…from failing schools to rapidly rising health care cost, from immigration to social security, the challenges we face as individuals, as communities, and as a country are immense and demand the best minds and best ideas from across the political spectrum. In the months ahead, my administration will set the example. We are more than just Republicans, we are Americans.

And so I ask my supporters to have empathy and understanding for those who are commiserating across America. And let us all pledge allegiance to Ona Nation, Indivisible.

I have always promised to fight for you, but that doesn’t mean we need to fight against them. Let’s mark tonight by finding our common ground and moving forward together.

Let’s fix our country, not to tear it apart…”

My American Dream, as a Filipino Immigrant in this Country of Hope and Opportunity.