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Americans need to deal with what the election gave them

By Alyssa Melendez, The Miami Student

I typically avoid saying anything controversial about the election in public, but pictures like this one have really upset me. Is this what America has become? When things don't go your way, you burn the symbol of freedom that our ancestors fought and gave their lives for?

I understand that a lot of people are upset over the results of this election and their feelings are completely justified, but this has just gone too far.

There's no changing the fact that Trump will be our next president. So instead of reacting in anger, America needs to put on their big boy pants and be a part of the change that their children and grandchildren can be proud of.

Before we talk about how we can put those pants on, let's figure out why we need them in the first place.

The majority of those protesting Trump are against him out of fear.

People are scared that a man who has dehumanized women and other minorities, a man who can't seem to control his mouth, will be in such a high position of authority.

They're scared because they've never had a mere citizen become their leader. It's always been an experienced politician.

They're scared because Trump has pledged to repeal every executive order Obama has made, including Obamacare.

But I'm here to tell those scared people something. Something that will either bring extreme relief or extreme distress.

Here it is.

You can't do anything except put the pants on.

I understand that you may be frustrated, that you may want to take a one-way flight to Europe and never look back, but just hear me out.

Putting the pants on means uniting as a nation. It means setting a good example for the younger generations. You may not realize it now, but our children will be reading about this presidential election in their history books.

So stop complaining. Stop the protests. Trust that we will make it through this uncertain time.

Now I know this all might not extinguish your anger and fear of Trump being in office, but I'm hoping it does extinguish the light of the torches burning our flag.

There's a quote written in the style of C.S. Lewis' book "Screwtape Letters" that I believe is extremely relevant to today.

"My Dear Wormwood,

Be sure that the patient remains completely fixated on politics. Arguments, political gossip and obsessing on the faults of people they have never met serves as an excellent distraction from advancing in personal virtue, character and the things the patient can control. Make sure to keep the patient in a constant state of angst, frustration and general disdain towards the rest of the human race in order to avoid any kind of charity or inner peace from further developing. Ensure that the patient continues to believe that the problem is "out there" in the "broken system" rather than recognizing there is a problem with himself.

Keep up the good work,

Uncle Screwtape."

Are you the patient? If you are, maybe you should start looking for a cure.