*The following is an opinion piece, written by Isaac Ross, who has absolutely no preference between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton*

Because Hillary won the popular vote by 1.2 million, many people are upset over the results of November 8th’s election. Protests have erupted in urban centers, including in downtown Colorado Springs. Impeachment movements have come out of several universities. A secessionist movement has gained traction in California and general tensions are high among all who dislike President-Elect Trump.

But friends, it is time to level heads and gain some perspective. Many of Trumps critics have moved beyond directly disliking Trump to now exclaiming hatred of anyone who voted for him or supported him. Many of their concerns of Trump are valid: his demeanor and treatment of women is unacceptable. His immigration stance is protectionist and can be seen as racist, particularly when coupled with sound bites of his opinion of illegal immigrants. His stance on gay and trans rights are firmly conservative and despite definite flip-flopping over the issue, has, for now at least, landed on being anti-gay and anti-trans. All of this has culminated into widespread rhetoric that Donald Trump is bigoted and against minority groups.

Whether or not those accusations are true, by inciting hatred against those who voted for Trump, you are doing the exact same thing which has grown to be the largest criticism of Trump– generalizing an entire group based off of their birth.

Of those who voted, 48% voted for Donald Trump, sixty million, one hundred twenty-two thousand, eight hundred and seventy-six people. Sixty million, one hundred twenty-two thousand, eight hundred and seventy-six members of your community. Sixty million, one hundred twenty-two thousand, eight hundred and seventy-six citizens of your country.

Of the United State’s 318.9 million citizens, 37.6 voted. Those numbers mean that 18.75% of the population of the United States. One in five people voted for Donald Trump, and one in five voted for Hillary Clinton. Those who voted in the past election make up a minority, and those who voted for any one candidate make up an even smaller minority.

All this is to say that if hatred is going to be incited, it needs to be against the one who garnered disapproval in the first place, not their supporters. Protest the player, not their fans. Start petitions, constitute legal grounds for change and work for change in the ways America was built on. More importantly, vote. Vote when you are 18 and work on campaigns before you are 18. If you hate Trump then do all you can to ensure someone you do not hate is elected in 2020.

But, he was elected, so respect those who voted for him, those who worked to get him elected. Keep in the forefront of your mind that your values are just that, values, and different people and groups have different still values shaped by their human experience. Give him a chance to lead and the moment he proves your fears correct then do all you can to remove him from office. Most importantly, love each other. People who voted for Trump voted for him for a reason, respect their values and respect who they are as people. Disagree, but disagree with respect, and argue smarter to prove your side of the argument correct.

Do not let the hatred of one man create hatred for an entire minority, because those thoughts are the exact same as hating Muslims because of a handful of terrorists, or hating illegal immigrants because a handful have committed crimes.

Rise above those you disagree with. Prove yourself right through respect and love.