It’s one o’clock in the afternoon on a hot, sunny Thursday here at San Diego State University. Trump was elected president just two days ago, and I am convinced the citizens of the “United” States of America are already destroying this country more than Donald Trump potentially ever could. I say “United” because right now, at this point in time, the word usage of united is anything but felicitous to be describing our States.
I’ve been trying to study in the library since 11 a.m. for three difficult tests in Organic Chemistry, Microbiology, and Psychology I have next week. After the past two disruptive hours of not being able to study while only listening to enraged protesters outside the library shouting “Not our President”, “Never Trump”, and profanity in regards to President-elect Trump, I’ve decided to take the time and write this open letter to any Americans willing to read it. Yes, It’s clearly evident I’m not a politician or expert in anything politics. Honestly, I haven’t taken any more political science, government, or economic classes other than those mandatory to graduate. However, this does not mean I’m ignorant to current and past legislation, foreign and domestic affairs, foreign relations, economic fluctuations, and so on. I may be just a Biology pre-med major and Neuroscience minor at SDSU, but what’s also important to me is staying current on worldly issues. I’m no one notable, but I am, however, very proud to call myself an American who loves this country too much to watch it be domestically torn apart. I’m not writing this to persuade anyone that right-wing politics or left-wing politics is the “correct” way to govern our country. Nor, do I identify myself as a Republican or Democrat because my personal beliefs incorporate views from all political parties. My goal, nevertheless, is for you all to recognize the intolerable actions and revolting turn our country has taken over these past few days.
I have a perfect view out the window of all the protest action going on from the fifth floor of Love Library facing Hepner Hall. There’s around 100 students all gathered in a circle-like formation currently chanting “Make bridges, not walls”, while holding signs reading “Love Trumps Hate”, “Not My President”, and “Not My Choice” among many other signs too far away for me to read clearly. This election, no doubt, has been one of the most emotionally consumed and intense elections in our nation’s history. The results quickly stirred riots and protests nationwide in cities and schools of people believing Trump is incapable of successfully leading our country where as Hillary Clinton would be thriving. Facebook feeds are flooding with ‘friends’ arguing over results and their political opinions, videos of violent protests and riots are engulfing the internet, celebrities and citizens are threatening to flee the country, insufferable hate crimes are taking place on groups and individuals, and existing worst of all, a country that has never been more divided than it is right now.
What really caught my eye with this protest I was watching from my table was the American flags. No one had an American flag in hand. I scanned the crowd thinking I would have to see at least one, but no, not even one American held an American flag. Yeah, some of their signs were written in patriotic red, white, and blue ink, but no flag was waving high anywhere. This observation flustered me in disbelief. As I was watching out the window, a young man approached a girl at the table next to me who was watching, as well. He inquired if she knew what all the chaos was about down there. The girl responded quite confidently explaining that they’re protesting against President-elect Trump and the recent campus hate crime involving the Muslim girl being robbed last night. She proceeded to tell him how she was supposed to be down there protesting as well, but had a test in an hour. I was not paying too close of attention to their conversation, but there was one quote she said that still is imprinted in my head word for word. In explaining why they were holding an Anti-Trump protest, she reasoned, “Because we all believe in the best for all Americans. And, we all will unite to stand up for all our people.” The part that grabbed me in her saying this was the emphasis and frequency of all, along with the presence of “unite”. I perceived this as a unification of Americans for Americans. She may have been talking about uniting Americans on the 5th floor of the library, but the group I was watching congregate in front of Hepner Hall was not showing that same unification I had conceived from her explanation. These people were protesting about Trump being incapable of leading and providing what’s best for all Americans as a whole, yet, no one was waving the one thing that unites ALL American citizens. If they were protesting in the best interest for all Americans, then why was our nation’s absolute rock and fundamental unity symbol not around to show this unification? Instead, all I saw were infuriated people united only by holding signs demeaning our President-elect while shouting mumbled words in sync. The lack of flags may not be a big deal at all or their signs a surprise, but I just found the flag’s absence a little contradicting and surprising. They claimed to be uniting to stand up for and represent all Americans, but a main symbol that unites all Americans was no-where to be seen. I bet the majority of the people didn’t notice the absent flags and I probably previously wouldn’t have either, but yesterday two riot videos posted on CNN had me absolutely incensed. These videos, along with many others performing the same immoral acts on our flag, got me engrossed in the flag and how citizens could perceive our country’s symbol in such a belittling way.
These two videos were from riots in Washington D.C. and outside the Trump Towers in New York City. In the videos, sickening people who consider their selves “Americans” are seen to be catching the American flag on fire while the rest of the crowd proudly cheers as they watch it burn. This is probably the most heinous and disrespectful act I could ever even fathom on so many different levels (and warning you now, it gets me very livid to talk about). I have tried to come up with justifications on why anyone would find this corrupt act acceptable, and still am having trouble comprehending it. Do these people see the flag as Donald Trump? Or maybe a nation with Donald Trump as our leader? Well, newsflash to all the deranged people that aren’t phased by this repulsive act, and those same ones who consider their selves Americans, the American flag is NOT Donald Trump. Our nation’s flag does not, and will not ever, belong only to him or any one individual for that matter, so stop attacking America’s symbol as if you’re personally victimizing him. The American flag belongs to us. That flag represents all of us, as a whole, as a unity, as Americans. Not only does that same flag represent all of us, but it also represents all the heroes of our country. That flag that our ‘fellow Americans’ are burning is the same one that gets draped over the coffins of soldier’s that honorably dedicated their lives to protecting ours. That ‘meaningless’ flag so easily burned is also draped over the coffins of police officers and firefighters who put their lives at risk every day to keep American citizens safe. So, what point exactly are these demented people proving by getting excited over watching our flag burn? Is this their way of “uniting” as Americans to stand up for their beliefs or show their disapproval on these past election results? The only people they are dishonoring and showing the maximal level of disrespect to are our heroes, our hero’s families and our hero’s loved ones. I have grandparents, cousins, friends, neighbors, and potentially one day my brother who is aspiring to join the army, all in different branches of the military protecting our country. With this being said, you can see why this subject personally enrages me to the fullest. Saying the burning of our flag offends or insults me would entirely be an understatement. To me, this act from these rioters conveys ungratefulness and inconsideration to all of my loved one’s righteous duties that are dedicated to this country. Seeing this unjust act done on an iconic symbol of our country that stands for pride, hope, honor, freedom, and unity, makes me wonder why I haven’t heard more of an uproar from other proud Americans.
When I think of American citizens uniting together whether to change something or just for national pride, two events come almost immediately to mind: September 11, 2001 and Army-Navy football games. The most united this country has ever been, at least in my lifetime, was following September 11. I was only in first grade at the time so my memories are limited, but what I do remember distinctly about this unification, was the amount of American flags hung up everywhere. Almost overnight, they were flying high with pride on houses, buildings, cars, and businesses. Of course, our flag isn’t some magical answer that automatically creates unification in all Americans. But there sure is something magical about our flag having the potential power to unite all Americans. The only detrimental part of this unification was the emotional loss our country had to endure in order to realize this and stand all together. What really ensued this unity, following our country’s devastation, was the widespread hope and pride displayed by Americans, which have become cemented traits in our flag. While this terrorist attack was an attempt to destroy our country, Americans joined together in communal kindnesses such as cleaning up the damage, supporting families and friends with lost ones, and volunteering to help out and rebuild New York. Another memory that reminds me of American unification is the annual Army-Navy football game. In my family, this is considered more of another holiday where the cousins, aunts, and uncles all attend together to remember and honor my deceased grandfather’s service to this country, along with all other active and non-active servicemen. Since it’s a military game you can only imagine the high level of respect in that stadium. The complete emotional silence during the national anthem, or the draping of the huge American flag over the fans with everyone wildly cheering in pride underneath it shows the unification in that stadium. Whether it’s Army or Navy that wins, the other team strongly honors their victory because at the end of the day, both teams realize they’re protecting the same exact country. These events have defined what unification among Americans has come to mean to me. Today, the unification that I used to be so well familiarized with has been devalued. I emphasized the significance of our flag because I believe, not the flag itself, but all the traits it stands for like pride, hope, freedom, honor, peace, equality, and unity are all responsible for America’s previous unifications. However, I do sadly believe that these underlying meanings of our flag have been demoralized and lost recently. The protests and riots surfacing from this election, especially the violent ones, have constructed an alienated definition of “unity” between Americans. In the most critical time, right now, where Americans should be empowering one another and standing together, all I see is violence and copious amounts of disrespect towards our country and each other.
This open letter was more of a rant I needed to blurt out from all of these political frustrations arising. However, I do very strongly believe we are internally destroying our country more than any President ever could, and this has been a consequence of our nation’s division that will not be resolved without a strong unification among American people. So I leave everyone with the famous quote “United we stand, divided we fall”.
