LETTER: Time to stand up, time to have hope

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As a relatively young person, I have not lived through many election cycles. The first one that I can remember is the election of Obama in 2008, and how happy my family was that he had won.

Though I have not been around long, it has become increasingly and abundantly clear that this past election cycle is totally abnormal. Month after month of scandal, attack and staggering behavior that my U.S. History classes tell me would have crippled any normal presidential hopeful beyond repair.

Seemingly at the center of the madness was Donald Trump. A man with no political experience, a highly circulated video of him mocking a disabled reporter, another highly circulated video of him voicing his unsettling, at best, views on what he does to and thinks about women, and a Twitter account that would prove highly amusing had it not been run by the man himself.

The entire election cycle, it was always “he can’t win” and “this’ll take him out for sure.” I imagine my shock and disappointment was shared by many this past November. I believe that we are entering an unfortunate time in our nation’s history, and there’s solid evidence to suggest that in Trump’s highly questionable cabinet picks.

But if there’s one thing that my youth can give me at a time like this, it’s a little bit of fire.

Now is not a time to become complacent and to sit idly by. I am glad to see that the world is not complacent. Women’s marches are popping up all over the nation, and even in other countries around the world in protest. I see people standing up and sending a clear message that we will never stop fighting for what we believe in. It’s a reason for me to have hope.

DECLAN GOLDENBOGEN

Port Townsend