As we watch the leaves change from green to the color of our future President, it’s hard not to take a step back and examine how we got here. This race has been a wild one. With two candidates who seem more concerned with the next best insult than their values and policies, it’s hard to find a candidate you truly support; however, it is not the choice in candidates that has saddened me, but instead the way people have been treating others throughout the race. Petty insults have become assaults, and assaults have turned into full blown protests. So in an effort to make sense of it all, let’s review the aftermath of the 2016 presidential election.

Turmoil: Apparently the world is ending according to Hillary supporters. Trump will ruin everything. He’s a racist, and he’s against women. While we’re at it, how about we call him anti-gay, anti-abortion, anti-global warming, anti-peace, anti-narwhal, and anti-cake. Like come on, this is getting just a little bit ridiculous, is it not? Trump is not against a lot of things that people claim. He has actually voiced his support for gay marriage, peace, different races, and even women.

Republicans: The Republican Party has been destroyed in the election. Why? Trump is truly not a Republican. Just look at his values. Many of his plans for the future take Democratic agendas and simply improve them. He has also been known to agree with Democrats on many social issues. This doesn’t mean he’s a Democrat either, though. He is the one party we desperately need in our government: an Independent.

Undeniable: Something needs to be made clear to protesters: The popular vote will never count, no matter how many petitions you sign. The Electoral College is in charge of the vote, and no matter how unfair this may seem it makes a lot of sense. The Electoral College guarantees that the people voting for the most important government position will be very informed. If the popular vote was in control, we might have a repeat of Brexit where half the nation doesn’t even know what they’re voting for.

Moving to Canada: First things first: Canada doesn’t want us. Think about it.  Its citizens perceive us crazy Americans getting all worked up over our crazy American politics and our crazy American laws. They probably think, “Wow, I’m glad no one is like that around here, ay.” Let’s leave Canada alone, so they can continue to be perfect and nice neighbors.

Protests: Don’t get me wrong. Protesting is great sometimes. It gives voice to the silenced and can often keep the government in check. However, this is no longer a protest. Making signs and screaming in the streets you have a license to protest in is one thing. Smashing property, harming defenseless people, and beating up police officers is an entirely different thing. It is absolutely crucial to realize that there are limits to the first amendment. Yes, you have freedom of speech; however, your words should not cause destruction nor bring harm to others. Yes, we have freedom of the press; however, you should not publish false information for your own gain. Yes, you have freedom of assembly, but that freedom does not give you the right to interfere and destroy with other people’s lives and property. Freedom does not mean you can do anything you want. It means the government will not punish you as long as you follow reasonable laws and rules.

At the end of the day, it’s time to put down the poster or phone and understand who the new leader is. A divided nation is weak. It is only when we come together and support our new president that our nation will become strong enough to face the coming change.