By Lukas Schroeder, Guest Columnist
Into the late hours of Nov. 8, I sat in awe as state after state on the CNN electoral map turned red. When Ohio, Florida and North Carolina were called for the Republican nominee, I realized his path to the White House had opened. Once he won Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, I knew he had sealed the deal \0xAD-- I knew Donald J. Trump would become the 45th president of the United States. As my clock neared 3 a.m., in the early morning hours of Nov. 9, I dazedly watched the President-elect give his victory speech.
Even as a Republican, I am completely shocked that Donald Trump will be our next president. My shock has not yet subsided. I anticipate it will be quite a while until it does.
This moment was never supposed to happen. The pollsters, pundits, media organizations and statistical projections all assured us Secretary of State Clinton would cruise to an easy victory. The same people who assured us Trump could never win the Republican nomination were wrong again.
As I attended my classes on Nov. 9, I observed the state of shock on the faces of many of my classmates. Republicans and Democrats alike were still struggling to process the Trump victory. Most Democrats appeared hopeless, as the candidate they had placed so much faith in now faced her unanticipated defeat. Most Republicans appeared stunned that their heavily unpopular candidate had actually won.
For people on both sides of the aisle, it will take time for the deep scars of this brutal campaign to heal. It will take time for the dust to settle and for emotions to stabilize. But right now we all must do one thing: we must come together and greet our President-elect with a renewed sense of optimism. We must grant him a chance to lead.
The President-elect has now been surprisingly clear in his message of unification. In his victory speech, he graciously thanked Secretary Clinton, saying that "Hillary has worked very long and very hard over a long period of time, and we owe her a major debt of gratitude for her service to our country. I mean that very sincerely."
He continued: "Now it's time for America to bind the wounds of division; [we] have to get together. To all Republicans and Democrats and independents across this nation, I say it is time for us to come together as one united people. It's time. I pledge to every citizen of our land that I will be president for all Americans, and this is so important to me. For those who have chosen not to support me in the past, of which there were a few people, I'm reaching out to you for your guidance and your help so that we can work together and unify our great country."
Even liberal Democrats have greeted our President-elect with optimism. In a statement, Sen. Elizabeth Warren wrote, "President-elect Trump promised to rebuild our economy for working people, and I offer to put aside our differences and work with him on that task."
Sen. Bernie Sanders echoed Sen. Warren, stating, "Mr. Trump is serious about pursuing policies that improve the lives of working families in this country. I and other progressives are prepared to work with him."
Secretary Clinton spoke in a similar tone in her concession speech: "Last night, I congratulated Donald Trump and offered to work with him on behalf of our country. I hope that he will be a successful president for all Americans," she said. "Donald Trump is going to be our president. We owe him an open mind and a chance to lead."
On Nov. 10, the President-elect met with President Obama at the White House to discuss their peaceful transition of power. Following their meeting, President Obama also expressed his optimism: "I have been very encouraged by the, I think, interest in President-elect Trump's wanting to work with my team around many of the issues that this great country faces," he said. "I believe that it is important for all, regardless of party and regardless of political preferences, to now come together."
President-elect Trump called Obama "a great man" and his meeting with him "a great honor."
2012 Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, Republican President George W. Bush and Democratic President Bill Clinton have also wished the President-elect well, as have many prominent world leaders.
Violent protests will not change the result of this election, nor will angry battles on social media. Antagonism and resentment will not change the result of this election, nor will allowing yourself to descend into depression. Choose a different path.
I didn't vote for my own party's nominee. But now, for the good of our nation, I support him and hope he succeeds. I encourage you all to do the same.
A President Trump will inevitably make mistakes, just as every president does. Then will be the time for criticism and ridicule. But in the context of the present, remember that Donald J. Trump has won the election. His successes in office will lead to our nation's success. It is your civic duty to wish him the best. Give the man a chance to lead and a chance to succeed.
As President Franklin D. Roosevelt once said, "The point in history at which we stand is full of promise and danger. The world will either move forward toward unity and widely shared prosperity -- or it will move apart."
We must strongly resist the voices that call us to move apart. We must favor unity, for the good of our nation and for the good of our future prosperity.
schroelm@miamioh.edu