Well, it is over. After 16 months of mudslinging, name-calling and ruthless debating, the 2016 presidential election has come to a close, with Republican nominee Donald J. Trump capturing the Oval Office. This was an election unprecedented in its media coverage, public interest and polarizing views. Besides the typical Democrat vs. Republican debate, this election split our nation in unprecedented ways.

“We have seen that our nation is more deeply divided than we thought. But I still believe in America, and I always will,” Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton said in her concession speech.

The arguments between “Making America Great Again” or “I’m With Her” severed relationships, exposing to the world all the issues our nation faces. Political parties found themselves gaining and losing supporters, as an individual’s affiliation became their entire reputation.

Stereotypes defined each campaign—Trump supporters were labeled as racist and ignorant, Clinton supporters as naive and corrupt. Americans saw a lose-lose situation and feared the judgement they would receive for making their support known for one candidate or the other.

“People are allowed to have their own political opinions, and those differences should be celebrated rather than judged or hated,” Laney S. ‘19 said.

This anxiety of political participation was reflected in voter turnout for the 2016 election. According to pbs.org, voter turnout fell to 57.9 percent this year, compared to 58.6 percent during the 2012 election.

The United States was, for a brief moment, not united. Politics became personal, perhaps in the darkest way imaginable. Clinton and Trump’s polarizing rhetorics left Americans stuck in the middle, fearful of making a concrete decision. Both candidates defied precedents in their use of propaganda, campaign symbols and pure fear. Everywhere Americans looked signs of the impending election were present, only intensifying the divide.

This is not the America citizens deserve. Our country prides itself on diversity, freedom of speech and participation in democracy. All these ideals were challenged, abused and threatened by the intense stakes of this presidential election. We should not have to feel ashamed of our political beliefs, or live in fear of a political discussion.

For the past year, the ugliest parts of our nation have been on display for the whole world to see. Destruction of property, rioting and protests have dominated media coverage, all centered around the election. America is better than this.

It is our obligation to reunite once again, regardless of the results of this presidential race. These next four years need to be dedicated to understanding each other, compromising and working together to create a more perfect union, one our Founding Fathers would be proud of.