by Erik Ritland




Dear anti-Trump brothers and sisters,

I understand your anger and fear. If the things that are assumed about Trump and his supporters are true - that he (and they) are racist, sexist, homophobic bigots - I'd be scared too.

However, I'm not convinced that this is true. I think that he and his supporters were unfairly stereotyped. Agree or disagree, the next four years will tell the tale. I have hope that they will prove people wrong. You should too.

And if it is as terrible as people say, and people are being treated unfairly, I'll be in the front lines fighting against unfair treatment of anyone. So will, I'm convinced, the majority of people who voted for Trump.

We have to understand that logically it doesn't add up that all Trump supporters are the hateful, racist, misogynistic stereotype. Our personal experience proves this. Are half the people around you this stereotype? If not, the odds are that they are normal, loving people who simply view things differently. If that is the case, then odds are also that the stereotype against Trump and his supporters is false.

People are saying that this will only make the hateful, racist, misogynistic people finally be able to come out of the woodwork and be less shy about it. This, to me, strains credulity and comes off as something people want to be true to confirm their fears and stereotypes so they aren't proven wrong.

So if you think the stereotype of Trump and his followers are true you have to ask yourself: do you want it to be true? If not, then you need to confront another fact, a fact that should give you hope: that maybe it isn't true, and your stereotype was wrong. If this is the case, you have nothing to fear.

I am also confronted with the scary thought that the stereotype might be true. And if it is, and women and gays and Muslims and non-white people are treated unfairly - I, and many other clear-minded Americans regardless of who they voted for, will be in the front lines fighting against any injustice against anyone.

Peace. And God bless.

Sincerely,

Erik Ritland
Founder and director of Rambling On (The Ragbag Ramble, the Sports Ramble, and the Music Ramble).

Before you "rock the vote" there's something else you should rock: acquiring knowledge. Speaking of acquiring knowledge, also learn about Shakespeare and Daniel Boone in the latest Ragbag Ramble podcast. Because why not? You might learn something cool, like Daniel Boone's ridiculous nickname or Shakespeare's father's occupation. Also: a classic Ritland Ramble on why people who think Shakespeare didn't exist are idiots. Thanks for listening!