Today has been a day filled with many different emotions. I have experienced excitement, frustration, joy, anger, and annoyance. I am sure there have been many more also. I awoke with excitement for this day: voting day. I stood in two lines for an hour in order to have my small, lone voice be heard. Afterward, I joined the masses at Starbucks, where I enjoyed a wonderful pumpkin spice and vanilla latte...and it began to rain. I was hopeful for the day ahead. It was all so lovely up until this point. Then I walked into a meeting and was accosted with a question of which Presidential candidate I voted for. This one question started a myriad of comments and snide remarks against the presidential party with which my vote has been given. Yes, my vote is different from many people in the country. But No, this does not make me a stupid individual. It does not discount the fact that I have valid reasons for my decision of who I vote for.

I will get to the point now. Its not that I am a poor loser, although I do have my moments. My frustration lies with the people who are my peers, colleagues, and friends. I have heard them say how stupid and utterly ridiculous people with my view are, even when they know where I stand. I am outraged mostly because of the manner in which things have been communicated. While I believe passionately about my choice, I have respected the decisions of other people and in essence have respected them and the choices they have made. I suppose there are many emotions regarding this topic of politics, so I will leave one last thought. I believe it to be more ignorant to stifle people and put them down merely because their beliefs are differently than others. If we are to live in this society as we do, we ought to make an effort to live respectfully with others.