Dear Trump supporters,

I want to start off saying that I do not want an argument.

Right now, I ask you to just listen. Before you get defensive of what you think I’m going to say, just listen.

Some Republicans voted for Trump for the simple fact that you will just always be a Republican and you will always support the Republican candidate.

But for the Trump supporters, I write this to you.

I need you to try to step aside from your views, and see my (anti-Trump) views.

I respect your opinions on politics, so I expect you to respect my opinion as well.

What I cannot understand is how you could support Trump.

Waking up for school on Nov. 9, I will never forget the first thing I heard. It was the news reporter for MSNBC: “You’re awake by the way, you are not having a terrible, terrible dream. Also you are not dead, and you have not gone to hell. This is your life now. This is our election now. This is us. This is our country. It’s real.”

Over night, our country went from a place of fighting for equality for all to a place that only values a certain kind of person.

Growing up, I could never understand the concept of hating someone based on gender, race, or sexuality.

My mother raised me to be strong and independent. Just as she has always been.

Along with being raised strong and independent, I was raised a tad naive. I believed in the world, and that everyone could be equal.

Now you may ask, what does this have to do with being a Trump supporter?

Answer: Everything.

Trump represents the part of the world I was naive about, the part that doesn’t believe in equality and everyone being equal.

Trump has treated women (including his family) as objects. He has made statements that show his treatment of women is taken as a joke, and he is unapologetic for his actions.

I am fearful for women in this country. Our president lacks respect for females in his own family. Do you think he will respect the “average” American woman?

As if being judged for being a woman isn’t bad enough, the discrimination continued to show throughout Trump’s campaign.

Because you are certain religion, you are a terrorist?

And just because you’re Mexican, you are a rapist, drug dealer, and lazy?

Since when does your race or religion determine the type of person you are?

I hear Trump supporters constantly say they like him because he tells the truth.

I’m not going to apologize for assuming you are a racist, sexist, and hateful person if you think what he says is the truth.

You can say you agree with his policies and you want change in this country.

But how can you be so blind to the fact of his hatred?

Even though I can agree with some of his policies, I cannot overlook the way he treats people.

It isn’t your politics I find repulsive. It is your personal willingness to get on board with supporting racism, sexism, and cruelty.

Finally, I want to make it clear that I truly hope he does succeed.

It wouldn’t make any sense for me to wish that he would fail, just to prove a point.

I want peace and equality as much as the next person.