Over the last week, a controversial surprise has snuck up on the American people: the fact that Donald J. Trump has become our President-elect.

Though I am in opposition to most  conservative policies, in an attempt to be a man of integrity, I have wholeheartedly decided to concede these results and see how he will operate our still-great nation.

So far, I applaud Trump’s efforts of reconciliation and bipartisanship. Even though he is most definitely not composing his own speeches, I give him credit and the benefit of the doubt for his willingness to relay such a speech.

On the contrary, some local residents have decided to vandalize and disrupt the downtown New Orleans area, specifically around Lee Circle.

I tend to lean left on America’s most pressing social issues, which is a seldom-held view for a young Louisiana native who is enrolled at an institution which holds Catholic views.

I am a cynic who is on a mission to someday view the glass as half-full. Like how a true Christian says he finds faith, love for all persons, and overall positivity through his or her religion, I find my positive side through my belief in progressivism. Like how a Christian abides by favored Gospels, I abide by leftist political platforms with which I most concur. As Christians find in Matthew 10:33, “But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven,” I also find in my liberal perspective. And no matter how much you may want me to change, I will never deny my political standpoint.

As for these protests, they will yield unsound results that are more unsound than that of a peaceful protest, for those who engage in these rebellions will now have arrest records and a reputation which prevents them from someday changing the world like they plan.

The most depressing fact is that they are vandalizing private businesses in the New Orleans area, along with the controversial Lee Circle monument. One Shell Square was recently tagged with an explicit phrase, as well as another phrase saying, “The system betrayed us.”

Why would a group of people who were recently angered with Trump’s comment of perhaps rejecting a loss be angered with a loss? Truly, the only thing we are losing is our sanity over a four-year-long lame duck president who will most likely not wish to serve a second term.

On the monument, which is now being used as a makeshift altar to burn Donald Trump effigies, lies graffiti which shows that the protesters possess feelings of white guilt, while also opting for anarchy. Those who favor an anarchy need to realize that people equal to or worse than Donald Trump may arise, and that not having a government of people who attempt to solve our nation’s problems will weaken our chances for equal opportunity.

Change is always imminent, no matter where you live. Some changes are setbacks, and some setbacks require more changes. As for how this change concludes, only time will tell. For those who are taking a sore loser’s approach to a Republican winning office, just remember, we had our eight years of victory; It’s their time now.

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Questions/comments? Feel free to E-Mail Colin at colin.rice.2019@stpauls.com