When I realized that Donald Trump was elected the next President of the United States I was completely overcome with anger. As I started to cry, I was filled with an intense hatred towards anyone who could vote for someone who so blatantly challenged the values I passionately hold. As I crazily scoured the internet, I could see Trump supporters were not only happy that Republicans won, but thrilled that Democrats lost. Their eyes mirrored the hatred in mine, except instead of me hating them, they hated me. In that moment my anger faded to an intense sadness.

I have many issues with Donald Trump, the most notable being I think he only respects straight white men, and I hastily assumed that everyone voting for Trump felt the same way. That’s about half of the American population, and as a nation that elected the first black president eight years ago, I have to believe (maybe naively) that can’t be true. Now is probably a good time to pause and say that there were likely plenty of Trump supporters who emphatically agree with his discriminatory views. What I am I about to say is not directed towards this group of Americans. I fundamentally and passionately disagree with them, and I believe they are going to end up on the wrong side of history, hopefully soon. But to the Trump supporters who do not fall in this category, I want to say I am sorry.

I had the privilege of biking across the country a couple of years ago, and I was blown away by the kindness of the people I met along the way. People housed us, fed us, and helped us when things went wrong. They were good people and many of them probably voted for Trump. I don’t hate them and I don’t think they hated me either, yet somehow during this election I got completely caught up in its hostile dynamic. I deemed any Trump supporter completely ignorant and didn’t listen to what they had to say. I didn’t listen to their fears that they might not be able to pay their increasingly expensive health insurance, or that their jobs were becoming obsolete and the economy around them crumbling. I didn’t listen to whatever other reasons they had for voting for Trump even though they don’t agree with the sexist and racist things that he says. I’ve moved from one liberal bubble to another throughout my life, and I was taught to love everyone, yet found myself hating anyone who didn’t feel the same. The irony of that is probably lost on no one.

In the end I think we all lost this election. Democrats are horrified and heartbroken because of the very real fear Trump is going to cause a complete collapse of all the progress America has made towards equality. Republicans will likely lose too because they are counting on a dishonest businessman with no political experience to restructure the economy. Only time will tell what is going to happen, but regardless, maybe we shouldn’t be all that surprised we ended up with Trump as our president. We didn’t listen to each other, or work together, and we ended up with a leader who doesn’t do those things either. Hate begets hate and for me this goes well beyond politics. This election has shown me how badly I don’t want to be someone filled with hatred, because that doesn’t make me any better than the people who challenge my beliefs. Trump is our frightening reality now and more so than ever we need to come together. This election has taught me some valuable lessons that I am excited to use in the next election, but until then, I am more motivated than ever to get involved in defending the rights of all Americans, no matter their race, gender, sexual orientation, or political party.

Amy Wyeth lives in Brunswick.