Not bullying to call out racism, not whining to protest it

A few people I really love, family, voted for Trump. Thanksgiving will likely be a night of word vomit and actual vomit from the stress and over eating. Mormons don't drink, so sadly it won't be alcohol-induced. There have been civil and meaningful discussions and other discussions where I'm yelling into my headphones in the park to the point of making me and the dog embarrassed. Other people I could have just unfriended because, thank Eleanor Roosevelt, they aren't tied to me as family. I still care about them and want to understand though. Instead of unfriending, I was a prick and went on a few social media tirades. To you I've been challenging the last few days, here is where my head is at, trying my best to understand.

He's a jerk. Try to explain away the blatantly racist things he's said, such as labeling illegal immigrants from Mexico rapists. You keep telling me it's the only racist thing he's said, which it isn't - he's offended many, as if it wasn't enough from our Commander and Chief (elect). The solution is building a wall to keep the rapists out. Or if they're not rapists, they're definitely a drain on our resources. That's how they're talked about, rather than contributors to our society. There is talk of those he's given jobs. There was the gracious taco bowl shout out. Then he insulted Latino immigrants again for saying taco trucks would be on every street corner if we didn't build a wall to keep out the rapists, who also come with taco trucks apparently.

Banning members of a religion from entering this country means we are targeting a religion in addition to the rapists and taco truck owners. The solution of banning all these people as solution to your problems is also xenophobia, whether you want to admit that or not. It is. Life for those in this country who wouldn't be banned or deported will feel like, well, a Trump rally.

The first act of protest against Trump I really loved was Rose Hamid in South Carolina back in January. I'll never forget her. She was escorted out of Trump's rally out to boos and chants. He said of this woman who stood silently wearing a shirt saying "I come in peace" that it was "their hatred, it's not our hatred." She now lives in a country where that guy makes the executive decisions. He's said to solve the issue of terrorism we need to go after terrorists' families, a war crime. Again as with the Mexican rapist comment I get, "he only said that one time." Voicing that thought out loud and televised one time is enough. It's too much to say, for the Commander and Chief (elect), ever. It shouldn't be a thought.

Imagining what it would be like for a Muslim in America right now, I feel completely vulnerable and unsure. I've signed up to help refugee families in Utah adjust, connect, and apply for citizenship after government assistance stops. This election has inspired me and a lot more people to care about my neighbors and country. For my part, no one will be made to feel uncomfortable or unwelcome here.

Some Trump supporters really embrace the racist message and chant and graffiti and name call and beat up. Others among you hate being called racist. "It's worse than anything Trump has said." "You're bullying me by calling me a racist." The only way to combat racism is to call it out any and every time I see or hear it. I'll do my best to do that with respect until my dying breath. I'll continue being the prick commenting on the memes you share or challenging you out loud in public. I, we, have to say something and never stop. Your hurt feelings about the association with racism are less important than calling out the racism.

The people I know who voted for Trump wouldn't call someone a name to demean them, or chant something in a crowd to intimidate a smaller group. I can't separate the racism from the vote like you must have. The vote supported a man who says terrible things about Latino and Muslim immigrants and advocates having less of them around. It was key to his platform. That wasn't enough for you to vote for someone else. The vote for him is not separate from that. You are complicit. If worse comes to worst with Trump, I won't have to shame you as a racist, Islamophob, or homophob. We'll all live with the consequences, and you can decide whether or not to to carry the shame of supporting it when the moment came.

I didn't and won't support it. I'll do everything I can for his impeachment or for the electoral college to change their vote on December 19th. The Electoral College allows for the electors to vote against the vote of the state if it's in the best interest of the country. That orange blowhard would not be my or most Americans' President. That is not the country I live in. Most of us - the popular vote anyway - don't live in his country. We don't accept his speech or plans to reduce those people he belittles. We should refuse him as our leader.

The right to peaceably assemble and petition our government for a redress of grievances is key to our progress as a country. Dismissing the #notmypresident protesters as sore losers or babies makes you feel better about the legitimate reason they have to protest. I applaud any peaceful protesters who want to stand against Trump instead actually just whining about it like we've heard the last eight years from Fox News. I'm adding protest to my list of things to start contributing. I'll be out there with the people to try and make a difference.

Protest is why we exist as a sovereign nation and is protected in our First Amendment. A large portion of our people are unhappy enough about this man to cause a disruption. Take notice instead of calling it whining; we have nation-wide unrest at Trump's election. Acknowledge why they are there. Look at how the decision impacts your country men and women and what you can do to help them now you've voted Trump into place.

My candidate was Bernie. Hillary and the DNC sabotaged him. Bernie stood for the same things I can understand on the vote for Trump. Both spoke to the hurting middle class, corruption in politics, veteran support, and national pride. I voted for McMullin, thinking he had a real chance in Utah and could take votes from Donald and maybe have a chance if neither Trump or Hillary got enough votes. My experience Utah made me think there was no way Hillary would win Utah, even though they hate Trump. She had more votes than McMullin. That was my real disappointment. Come on, Mormons. You knew better than this. An anti-Mormon is now advising the President. I lost my vote for Bernie in Hillary's quest for the office, my vote for McMullin in Utah's fear of liberalism, and a little faith in my fellow citizens to a social media circus.

Right now, Trump is not Hitler. You're probably sick of the comparison. It's what a lot of protesters are worried about, so I'm taking it there. I wonder how many German people consoled themselves with "I wasn't that type of Hitler supporter." I hope Trump isn't President for long, and that however long that is he's better than candidate Trump. I hope you get the luxury of being able to remove the xenophobic policies and ideas from your vote this year. Whatever the case may be, I'm not bullying you along the way as I call out the racism associated, and our fellow citizens are not whining when at its protest.