Why I did not vote for Trump.

It is not for fashion that I refuse allegiance to any political party.  I'll gladly concede to any pragmatic and benevolent ideas regardless of the group to which these ideas are the core tenets.  I see no other mission in life than to erase the imaginary boundaries we've placed upon one another.  I want world peace.  I want the opportunity to find happiness to be equally accessible for every individual on Earth, regardless of one's beliefs, skin color, nation of origin, sexuality, or gender.  We are all human and share this planet together - that's about as far as my perception of division can go.

I did not want Hillary to become our next president.  Before the primaries, I loathed the idea of a Clinton presidency.  But to stand behind Trump as a president?  I simply could not compromise my intelligence nor my reverence for the office of commander-in-chief in such a manner as to consider this man to be the leader of the United States of America.

Trump's rhetoric did not speak to me.  I did not believe him.  His hyperbole, bombastic demeanor, sales-pitch one-liners - all were lost on me.  I saw through it.  He spoke to the fear and the uncertainty of a hopeless American people; a narrative sensationalized by media outlets and hardly definitive of America as a whole.

He is good at selling himself - and he knew his demographic.  In every electoral process we search for something better as we do every New Year's Day - a chance to start over, a clean slate.  Regardless of the fact that the same system and circumstances under which we reside will continue to remain, we can't stop ourselves from believing.  And, depending on the severity of the suspension of our disbelief, we live out this story of how we think things are and ought to be.  It is a troubling quality of humans albeit one that separates us from the rest of the animal kingdom.  We want to believe.  We want hope.  And Trump sold that to America, in a similar fashion - though void of coherence, fact, and poise - as did Obama in 2008.

There are things Trump claims to stand for that I hope he is committed to seeing through.  I just don't see a competent man with a good pulse on humanity.  I see an opportunist; a salesman.  I see someone who enjoys power, praise, and money.

I accept that Trump is president.  I am not happy with it.  I will not normalize him.  I will not resist him for the sake of a grudge or political party loyalty.  I am saddened that Trump is president, but I accept it.