STUDENT: Election perspective

I am a student at Canfield Middle School, and I was closely following this year’s election. I know many people in Idaho are rejoicing at Donald Trump’s election, but plenty of kids at Canfield are not. Many of us thought Trump was just a joke, comedy relief in the election. We didn’t think of him as the leader of our country. We’ve been raised with powerful women in media, with kindness being a virtue to strive for and with the belief that people of any race or religion are equal to everyone else and should be welcomed, not discriminated against.

Trump says things that completely go against all of what we have been taught and believe. I know kids who tried to convince their parents not to vote for Trump because we have been raised in a world where racism isn’t accepted and sexism is frowned upon. Now, Trump will take us back to an America he thought was “great.” An America where only white males held places of power. But this is the 21st century and anyone, regardless of race or gender, can succeed.

Trump wants to convince us that America was great once but isn’t anymore. America is great and we need to think about how we can make it greater.

SAM OWENS

Coeur d’Alene