Editorial: Accept, find compromise in winning candidate

The polls are closed, the numbers are in and the results are… somebody isn’t happy.

With such a controversial election season finally drawing to a close, chances are we’ve all had Facebook and Twitter homepages full of various opinions about this year’s nominees.

Admittedly, both candidates have their fair share of flaws. After the last vote is accounted for, however, the time for constant angry rhetoric is over. It’s time to set aside our differences, accept the new president and move forward to keep America great.

This election’s discourse has focused little on the political issues at hand. Simply put, we’ve been angry. We sure haven’t been shy to voice our anger, setting new records for presidential debate viewership.

With new powers utilized in social media, we can talk about this anger any time of day with anybody who cares to listen as often as we choose. The boom in social media activity this election cycle has led to fatigue and the spread of misinformation.

In an election cycle or not, we must be mindful about how we post on social media. Our freedom of speech is a basic Constitutional right. However, there are consequences for some things we say, and nowhere in the Constitution do we have a right to be rude or disrespectful. Mindful communication and compromise are key.

As past administrations show, when the government and people fail to find compromise amongst diverse partisan beliefs, the president cannot accomplish much. This is where the prominent source of anger in the American people takes shape, where voters see the problems in the country firsthand and see no progress in solving them.

No matter if we agree with all of the president’s goals or not, we as a country, and especially as the young generation looking toward the future, need to stand by the commander-in-chief. We need to bridge the wide gap and learn to communicate and understand others at any level of government, starting with citizens themselves.

Perhaps the most important issue surrounding the election is the necessity of democratic participation and voting. Despite claims that the election was potentially rigged, the nominee who won did so justly. The people have spoken.

People who didn’t take the time to mark a ballot have no solid reason to complain about the results. They had their chance to make their voice heard and chose not to partake in the political process. The real critique to make is justifying the decision to not vote, especially in such a close, high-stakes race.

Even in particularly close races, if the losing candidate can accept his or her defeat, the voters can accept the results as well. For those who voted for the losing candidate, the debate is over. Rather than fearing if the winning candidate can unify the country, we should find that union within ourselves and our communities.

The politicians might have the spotlight, but the people’s actions speak volumes. Through various studies, the Pew Research Center has found America at the most politically polarized state it’s ever seen.

Undoubtedly, we will always see disagreement. This disagreement, our ability to form opinions, educate ourselves about said opinions and express them to others are all core values of American democracy. When we use these values in productive and civil ways, we can find satisfaction in any situation.

Our country has persevered through much worse than a less-than-favorable candidate. We cannot sit idly and complain when we have the choice to make a difference.

According to National Public Radio, millennials, who now outnumber baby boomers, are poised to become the dominant political generation of the next 35 years beginning in this election. America is at a pivotal point in its history, both politically and culturally.

The classic American dream probably looks much different than its original image. Nonetheless, that hope for success and happiness still exists. It might just take a change in attitude to see it.