During the presidential campaign period, one of the criticisms of Donald Trump was his refusal to confirm if he will respect the outcome of the elections.
The charge hurled at him was that he did not respect the democratic process, since he would not definitively say if he would accept a defeat on election night.
Which is why it was so ironic that hours after he was declared president-elect, after a stunning win over Hillary Clinton, the same demographic criticizing him for “not being democratic” were guilty of the same charge themselves.
Just shortly after news that a Trump win was confirmed, anti-Trump riots occurred in the Clinton strongholds of California, New York and Oregon.
Chanting “not my president”, rioters storm major motorways and Trump Organization-branded buildings refusing to accept the outcome of the 2016 elections.
In Oakland, California it was estimated by CNN that 7,000 anti-Trumpers took to the streets with many targeting law enforcement officers.
Private businesses were also being looted, while some were set ablaze. Major roads were set alight with burning trash cans and vandalism was rampant.
The L.A. Times also reported mass walkouts in college campuses, with thousands of students choosing to commit arson instead of pursuing education.
There were blockades happening among major thoroughfares, about 1,000 college students and educators were reported to have staged a sit-in in front of the Los Angeles city hall.
In Trump’s home state of New York, protesters stormed the Trump Tower while in other areas major roads were blockaded.
There were also reports of vandalism at the Trump International Hotel in Manhattan, which is an attack on private property. A public Manhattan park was also occupied and reports of assault were rife.
Likewise, in the blue state of Oregon similar violent demonstrations also occurred. Kgw.com reported that over 2,000 protesters stormed Portland City Hall calling for Trump’s impeachment.
University of Oregon students also chose to riot instead of learning, taking to the streets to burn effigies of Donald Trump and several American flags.
There were also riots in places like Chicago, Kansas City and Boston comprised of demonstrators angry at the democratic process.
One of the protesters, named Princess, took to Twitter to explain her dissent:
A PRESIDENT IS SUPPOSED TO MAKE US FEEL PROTECTED AND PATRIOTIC, NOT SCARED AND ASHAMED TO BE AN AMERICAN. #NOTMyPresident
— Princess✨ (@materialgirl_me) November 9, 2016
Paradoxically, the reason why so many Americans do not feel safe in the aftermath of this election cycle is because of the brutish riots happening in major cities that have already caused the injuries of several policemen.
It is quite disconcerting that despite a fair win in the recent election, these people refuse to accept a democratic process. Ironically, these were the same ones loudly criticizing Trump for not saying if he would respect the outcome of the election.
Since the outcome of the election was not favorable to them, they choose to ignore the result and renege on their so-called principles.
It turns out that their criticism of Trump was not driven by conviction, but rather their own warped view of how democracy works.
For them, it either goes their way or they respond violently.
This kind of behavior is exactly what brought about the term, “Generation Snowflake“. A disparaging label for the millennials of today who believe they are entitled to having everything their way.
Failure to achieve their desired results causes what they themselves have called, a “triggering“. This, according to Generation Snowflake, is on par with PTSD that ex-servicemen suffer during combat.
Use the wrong pronoun on someone? Triggered. Wearing the costume of another culture not that of yours? Triggered. Candidate they did not vote for wins important election? Triggered.
This is the reason why a Yale professor reconsidered an important exam to allow students to “cope with the result of the election.” A Yale Econ 115 class exam was made optional for students who felt “distraught” at Trump’s victory.
While some may dismiss this behavior as pure nonsense, we must be cognizant of the potential danger it has. The riots against Trump, which attacked individuals and damaged private property, is a prime example of its hazard.
Tolerating this behavior would also bring about a future generation of hyper-sensitive, naive individuals who expect everything to go their way.
The harsh truth about life is that not everything goes our way, adulthood is when we learn and be accepting of this reality.
It is then a public service to teach these anti-Trumpers a vital lesson of adulthood and tell them that in life, you don’t always win.
LOUIE ENCABO.com 