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For many people, the unthinkable has become real. All the waiting, praying, and jokes to offset anxiety has been boiled down to the winner of this year's election: Trump. I cannot begin to fathom the feelings some of you must have right now, my heart and mind are full of sadness and disbelief. I know many of you have echoed this sentiment in the last day or so.

But listen to this.

The country may be divided. You may be terrified, anxious, worried out of your goddamn mind, but listen to this.

From 1973 to 1978, Harvey Milk trailblazed his way through the politics of San Francisco as an openly gay man, leaving an amazing legacy behind when he was assassinated. He empowered the LGBTQ+ community, and was a champion of human rights. He proved that there was hope, even in the darkest of days.

Martin Luther King Jr. spent the majority of his far too short life going against the radical Jim Crow laws and the countless cases of rampant racism that plagued the 50s and 60s. He was also assassinated, but his dream still lives on today, and we see it still.

Susan B. Anthony dedicated her life to women's suffrage. She faced major opposition and abuse on so many fronts, unfair trials, and government officials plain laughing at her. But her perservation was not in vain; though she died in 1906, women now reap the benefits of all her blood, sweat, and tears that she put in for all Americans to be equal.

Barack Obama, the first black president of the USA, who took the racist and churlish comments from all sides and put back devotion and life into his country. After decades of racism and segregation blighting American society, the election of the first black American president was hugely symbolic.

Audre Lorde, who was black, a lesbian, a mother, and a feminist, spoke out for years about sexism, racism, homophobia, classism, ageism, and any other injustice she saw, and very often encouraged others to do the same. The famous quote, Your silence will not protect you, came from her.

Dan Savage, who founded the It Gets Better Project, works on letting LGBTQ+ youth know that life will get better as they get older, while trying to make a better world for future LGBTQ+ generations.

Nelson Mandela, who spent over twenty years in jail for his opposition to the racist apartheid system which excluded blacks from many areas of society.

Malala Yousafzai, who is just nineteen years old, is defying threats of the Taliban to campaign for the right to education. She survived being shot in the head by the Taliban and has risen to become a global advocate for human rights, women's right, and the right to an education.

I could go on forever, but the point I am trying to make is that all these people - some American, some not - have made a difference in a time when their world seemed to be hell. Every person that stood with them, every heart that said yes, we can do better! has moved with these people; movements are not the will of one person, but the will of many. Change does not happen with the whim of one, you must gather an following and move forward. We can all do this by being there for each other, by standing tall and supporting each other when things get tough or scary.

America, you are so much greater than what you think you are. You are divided and you are tired and you are so angry and restless that you don't know what to do any more. You think things can't surprise you any more, and then something else happens. But do you know what never fails you? Your heart.

You love your country fiercely, with passion, even if sometimes you look around and just think, What the ever loving fuck? You are proud to be American, even when the world is questioning the things happening there. You are determination, strength, and faith rolled together. You don't quit, you fight for each other, you are brave. And you will power through this. Support each other, love each other, watch each other's backs. Canada is with you - the world is with you; we love you, and we are here to support you. You are more than you can ever imagine, and one man - regardless of where he sits - is not going to change the stalwart heart I know you all have.

So when you see people panicking and screaming, "America, what have you done?!", ask instead, "What can we do to help?". And it will make all the difference in the world.

The star spangled banner forever.

Description

For many people, the unthinkable has become real. All the waiting, praying, and jokes to offset anxiety has been boiled down to the winner of this year's election: Trump. I cannot begin to fathom the feelings some of you must have right now, my heart and mind are full of sadness and disbelief. I know many of you have echoed this sentiment in the last day or so.

But listen to this.

The country may be divided. You may be terrified, anxious, worried out of your goddamn mind, but listen to this.

From 1973 to 1978, Harvey Milk trailblazed his way through the politics of San Francisco as an openly gay man, leaving an amazing legacy behind when he was assassinated. He empowered the LGBTQ+ community, and was a champion of human rights. He proved that there was hope, even in the darkest of days.

Martin Luther King Jr. spent the majority of his far too short life going against the radical Jim Crow laws and the countless cases of rampant racism that plagued the 50s and 60s. He was also assassinated, but his dream still lives on today, and we see it still.

Susan B. Anthony dedicated her life to women's suffrage. She faced major opposition and abuse on so many fronts, unfair trials, and government officials plain laughing at her. But her perservation was not in vain; though she died in 1906, women now reap the benefits of all her blood, sweat, and tears that she put in for all Americans to be equal.

Barack Obama, the first black president of the USA, who took the racist and churlish comments from all sides and put back devotion and life into his country. After decades of racism and segregation blighting American society, the election of the first black American president was hugely symbolic.

Audre Lorde, who was black, a lesbian, a mother, and a feminist, spoke out for years about sexism, racism, homophobia, classism, ageism, and any other injustice she saw, and very often encouraged others to do the same. The famous quote, Your silence will not protect you, came from her.

Dan Savage, who founded the It Gets Better Project, works on letting LGBTQ+ youth know that life will get better as they get older, while trying to make a better world for future LGBTQ+ generations.

Nelson Mandela, who spent over twenty years in jail for his opposition to the racist apartheid system which excluded blacks from many areas of society.

Malala Yousafzai, who is just nineteen years old, is defying threats of the Taliban to campaign for the right to education. She survived being shot in the head by the Taliban and has risen to become a global advocate for human rights, women's right, and the right to an education.

I could go on forever, but the point I am trying to make is that all these people - some American, some not - have made a difference in a time when their world seemed to be hell. Every person that stood with them, every heart that said yes, we can do better! has moved with these people; movements are not the will of one person, but the will of many. Change does not happen with the whim of one, you must gather an following and move forward. We can all do this by being there for each other, by standing tall and supporting each other when things get tough or scary.

America, you are so much greater than what you think you are. You are divided and you are tired and you are so angry and restless that you don't know what to do any more. You think things can't surprise you any more, and then something else happens. But do you know what never fails you? Your heart.

You love your country fiercely, with passion, even if sometimes you look around and just think, What the ever loving fuck? You are proud to be American, even when the world is questioning the things happening there. You are determination, strength, and faith rolled together. You don't quit, you fight for each other, you are brave. And you will power through this. Support each other, love each other, watch each other's backs. Canada is with you - the world is with you; we love you, and we are here to support you. You are more than you can ever imagine, and one man - regardless of where he sits - is not going to change the stalwart heart I know you all have.

So when you see people panicking and screaming, "America, what have you done?!", ask instead, "What can we do to help?". And it will make all the difference in the world.

The star spangled banner forever.