Friday, November 11, 2016

How it Felt to be a Trump Voter This Week


I have been a closet Trump voter this week.  Why? As a person who doesn't like confrontation and fears rejection, I wanted to hide and not put myself out there or take a stance either way.  Don't rock the boat, Abby.  You will lose friends and people's respect over this. But why are so many allowed to voice how they feel, yet somehow I feel like I can't?  So before you read on please treat me and my {probably different} opinion with respect.  Because we are all allowed to have our own opinions and this is mine. 

I am for freedom of speech and I am GLAD that we don't live in a cookie cutter America.  How boring would that be? But the very people who claim to be "open minded" seem to be very close minded this week.  I have felt family members, friends and strangers label me as a LBGT-hater, a bigot, racist, sexist, etc. and for the past few days I have zipped it. My parents always told me if you don't have anything nice to say, then don't say anything at all.  But I want to take a moment and respectfully tell you how I landed on this {not easy} decision. 

To start off, I contemplated NOT voting but NOT voting is an easy cop-out.  So I wrestled with the decision and frankly went back and forth.  Truthfully, I wanted NEITHER candidate.  I am FULLY aware of Trump's past and horrifying commentary {which he has apologized for} and that is the very reason I did NOT vote for him in the Primaries.  I also RESPECT Hillary voters because to be honest... I almost voted for HER.  There are SEVERAL issues that I agree with HER on. I find her poised, seasoned, determined, and honestly inspirational. I would also LOVE a female President someday and I loved her empowering speech to young girls and how they can do and be anything they want to be. I AGREE!!! I have 2 little girls of my own and I am already instilling that very thing in them.  I also want to point out that some of my very favorite people in the WORLD are from the LBGT community and I am fiercely PRO-REFUGEES.  My Mom's school is FULL of them and I adore each one of them. I fully intend on continuing to serve and minister to them despite the election results.  But for me, when push came to shove I voted on the platform.  I voted on the Supreme Court. I voted with a 30-40 year perspective vs. a 4 year stint in office. 

But to clarify to so many that do not understand HOW or WHY.  Here is what I voted FOR. 

A government who is: 
Pro America
Pro-Life
Pro Military
Pro Constitution
Pro Veterans
Pro Law enforcement
Pro 2nd amendment
Pro Israel
Pro Legal Immigration
Pro Limited government
Pro Constitutional Supreme Court
Pro Religious liberty
-Anti Obamacare
-Anti Common Core
-Anti Political corruption in DC




I am more conservative when it comes to social issues.  But isn't that okay? Can't we all hold true to our own convictions?  

Just because I disagree with you doesn't mean I have to disrespect you as a person.  

And you know who has handled this transition with SUCH grace? That would be the two people who stood to lose the MOST in all of this.  Hillary Clinton AND President Obama.  Their speeches made me proud. WELL DONE to both of them.  President Obama said the Presidency is like a relay race.  You get passed the baton, run as best as you can, and then gracefully pass it off to the next person.  He said ANY amount of progress you made in your short term is a WIN! So now it's time to pass the baton temporarily to Donald Trump.  

If you didn't watch Trump's Victory Speech after he won, I would highly encourage you to, as painful as it may be.  As a closet / skeptical Trump voter it actually affirmed my decision and got me excited! I look forward to seeing what an incredibly successful and smart businessman can do for our country in regards to infrastructure, bringing jobs back to America, and our national debt. I think it will be exciting to watch. Lets PRAY FOR HIM.  That he puts wise and strong leaders and influencers around him in DC.  (He is going to need it!) And pray that he is able to accomplish all the GOOD THINGS he says he wants to accomplish for the greater good of our country. 


As college student Cassie Hewlett expressed:

"Silencing those who simply exercised their right to vote in our free nation violates the core principles for which our country stands. I am by no means saying that those who were not happy with the results of the election do not have the right to mourn. They absolutely do. However, I am saying that those who are content with the results should feel safe in expressing their joy and optimism for the future of this country without the fear of being ostracized."
Full post here. 
And as a Democrat Riaz Patel put :
The worst outcome of the election is that we have each been reduced to a series of broad labels that no longer reflect who we are. Mexican. White. Republican. Immigrant. Muslim. We may try to look at people as “labels” but we’ll never truly see them because THEY do not look at their own lives & families as labels. If, in the misery of this morning’s election hangover, we choose to continue to refer to Trump supporters as one collective “Them” I think that is as offensive as anything else I’ve heard in this election cycle and as ungracious as anything we feared from Trump supporters in the defeat we assumed would be theirs. I think a key part of beginning to heal is realizing Trump is not his supporters. Who he is and how he campaigned are truly distasteful to me. But his supporters are not him. They voted for a variety of reasons that are important and personal to them. And when I was with them this past weekend, everyone I came across showed me kindness & humanity. I hope, for their sake, the quality of their life improves. And that they are able to continue to work and provide their families with a safe and loving home.
Full article here
I think the way we treat, love, and serve one another is separate from who is in the Oval Office. We need to start BEING THE HANDS AND FEET of Christ. Not all churches are the same. Not all Trump voters are the same. Not all Democrats are the same. We each have our own convictions and reasons why we voted the way we did and truly, I respect all of my friends and family who voted for the other candidate. It was a hard decision for me.
All I am asking is for that respect to be mutual. 
CHRIST = LOVE
Lets be like HIM. 

15 comments:

  1. Great I'm Latina third generation.
    My kids are being told that their parents will be deported. People at my local grocery store are asking me when do I leave. This is happening to not just me. One more thing yesterday in Sun Valley, Nevada a Hispanic lady was told you need to sit in the back of the bus. So I'm glad you can have some relief. For us Hispanics we are still humans should not be treated like this from all trump voters

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    1. Your kids learn that from their parents and the media. It's simply not true. Let's take Trump seriously not literally.

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    2. I am sorry that people are treating you this way. I have ZERO tolerance for that behavior. From what I know, that is a very small percentage of Trump supporters. Most of them were reluctant (like me). I will do my best to fight racism locally in my community. If we can all do that (regardless of who we voted for) our country will be better. Thanks for the thoughtful response!

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  3. I'm not a Trump or Clinton supporter but we probably have a lot of common ground. You seem like a kind-hearted, reflective individual, so I ask you this: Please have compassion for those in our country, like Erla, who are being terrorized in their schools, neighborhoods, and possibly even most sadly of all, their churches. Their fears are real and so is the danger they are in. I'm white, like yourself. I understand it is not pleasant to be called a racist, but it doesn't threaten your life. Imagine how infinitely more terrifying it is for the people who are victims of racism. I'm willing to put up with the discomfort of being educated on my privilege if it helps others feel safe. I also feel that Jesus would have said the same.

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    1. Believe me, I am. As it stands right now, no one in my direct circle feels this way. (Granted, I live in Dallas) If someone comes across my path you better believe I will sit with them, listen and give them a huge hug. I have no tolerance for hate. Racism has been around much longer than last Tuesday. Trump on 60 minutes was apalled to hear of the violence being committed in his name and told people to cut it out and STOP it. My stepbrother said "I've also considered that change on a political or national level won't occur until it's accomplished on the local level. i'm praying we might realize the role we've been entrusted with to reconcile our communities and act on it. THAT is what I plan on doing. I hope you will do the same." and I couldn't agree more. Lets all start with loving our communities well. If we can create that kind of movement, our country will transform and change. Thank you for reading!

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  4. Hi Abby,

    As a diehard Democrat, I respect your right to vote how you did. And I respect the list of Pro-s you gave. IMHO however, you got duped. I doubt that DJT will follow through on what you want. But time will tell. As I have posted elsewhere, I will support any and all good things he does.

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    1. Thank you Steven for the respectful response! I hope he proves you (and lots of us) wrong ;)

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  5. I truly respect what you voted for (though my list would be far different), but I don't respect the candidate you chose. Would you give Donald Trump a seat at your dinner table? For my daughter's sake, I know that my conscience would not allow it. He built a campaign around humiliating marginalized groups, and he's the least presidential candidate we've ever had. I stand with women, minorities, members of the LGBTQ community, and all of those who have been terrorized by Trump's dangerous rhetoric.

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    1. I would have him over for dinner. Just like I would any woman / minority/ or person from the LBGT community. As my stepbrother put so eloquently----> I've also considered that change on a political or national level won't occur until it's accomplished on the local level. i'm praying we might realize the role we've been entrusted with to reconcile our communities and act on it. THAT is what I plan on doing. I hope you will do the same.

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  6. I am a blog friend of Amanda J's and clicked on your blog because I found your post title intriguing. I am also Canadian so had no power to vote in this election. And really, I don't know how I would have voted. You all had a really tough decision to make.

    I appreciate your thoughtful list of reasons why you voted for Trump. While I may not agree with them, I appreciate that you put a lot of thought into who would get your vote.

    And in reading your post, and through the comments, I appreciate your personal commitment to work against some of the things that anti-Trump supporters fear.

    Thank you for putting yourself out there and, along with you, I commit to pray for our world, and to be the hands and feet of Christ to those around me.

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    1. Thank you for the thoughtful comment Natasha! I am not for hate at all. I am so glad that came across in my post and I think we can all appreciate and use the prayers for our nation during this turbulent time! XO

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  7. I have followed your blog since you were an expat in France and I appreciate seeing your pros list although mine would've been different. If nothing else I don't know how you could've voted for a man who spews hate out of his mouth all the time. He has never apologized for saying those hateful things and he's fueling other people's hate. As a woman, I truly think you voted against your own self interests and your vote will harm people in this country. You probably won't be effected because you are a white, upper class female, but millions of others in this country will be badly effected. I also don't understand what people have against Obamacare. Here's a story for you to think about. A friend of mine who has a young family of her own is a breast cancer survivor. Although she is in remission, she is on meds that keep her cancer away. Obamacare got rid of lifetime maximums for care that insurance companies put in place. If Obamacare is repealed she will again be up against maximum care rules and she will no longer have her meds covered by her private health insurance. There are thousands of other stories like hers. I have another friend with a chronic illness who is scared that she will now lose health insurance. My adult sister is disabled and I'm now worried that she will lose her health coverage. All I can say is you voted against human rights and I hope that keeps you up at night.

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    1. I have peace about my decision and sleep very well at night. I am sorry that you feel this way- You may have followed my blog for years but you dont know me personally so I don't feel like you have the right to judge. Can we both just hope that Trump does a good job the next 4 years for everyone's sake?

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    2. Yes, Abby, we can both agree and hope for Trump's success. I'm sorry that I got heated in my comment but I have strongly felt that many Trump supporters did not fully understand the impact of their vote. Maybe his policies won't effect you, but they will negatively effect many other people.

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