The Hypocrisy of "Calm Down": A Reflection on America's Broken Political Trust
A white man leaving the White House, telling Americans to "calm down" after four years of turmoil, feels like a cruel joke. After four years of Democrats and the media warning us that Donald Trump was the greatest existential threat to this country, the call for composure and reconciliation rings hollow. It’s a glaring reminder that at the end of the day, it doesn’t affect him or his family directly. Our pain, our fear, our anger—all pushed aside for the sake of a performative “peaceful transfer of power.”
The hypocrisy is almost unbearable. For years, the Democratic Party and its allies told us Trump represented the very worst of America—a corrupt, dangerous, authoritarian figure whose every move eroded our democracy. They were right. Yet, now that the baton is being passed, we’re supposed to swallow our outrage and believe that all is well again. Where’s the acknowledgment of the damage done or the urgency to fix it?
The Broken Trust: Why Marginalized Communities Feel Betrayed
For marginalized communities—POC, LGBTQ+ individuals, immigrants—the Democratic Party’s failure to protect us, even in moments of supposed power, is nothing new. From promises of sweeping immigration reform to stronger protections for Black Americans and women’s rights, time and time again, Democrats have capitalized on our fears, leveraged our votes, and delivered little in return.
The Jan. 6th insurrection should have been a wake-up call. A violent mob stormed the Capitol, directly challenging the democratic process and threatening elected officials. Yet, today, we’re told to act as though it never happened. Where’s the accountability? Where’s the protection for those who’ve been repeatedly targeted by right-wing extremism?
The Reality: We Are Not Protected
As marginalized communities, we’ve been on the chopping block for years, and this new administration doesn’t seem interested in changing that. The lack of meaningful effort to shield us is enraging. What’s even more upsetting is the Democratic Party’s insistence on playing by outdated rules of decorum and morality, all while the far right gleefully discards them.
This adherence to "respecting the rules" is absurd when the other side is busy rewriting them. While Democrats preach about maintaining the sanctity of a peaceful transfer of power, they fail to recognize that their opposition has already burned that principle to the ground. January 6th happened. It was an attempt to upend the democratic process, and pretending otherwise only emboldens those who seek to destroy it.
A Generation Forced to Clean Up the Mess
Our generation—millennials and Gen Z—are inheriting a political system that feels irreparably broken. We’ve been pushed to the edge, left with no choice but to step up and run for office ourselves. Canceling student debt, securing voting rights, and addressing climate change will not come from the old guard. Their complacency has made that clear.
We’ve seen how this system sacrifices us to maintain the illusion of civility. Black and brown bodies, queer lives, immigrant families—we’ve always been collateral damage for a "peaceful" America that only ever worked for a select few. This new administration, with all its promises of unity, must prove it is different. Otherwise, the next four years will look just like the last: marginalized communities left to fend for themselves.
Articles and Research Supporting This Perspective
Trump’s Anti-Democratic Legacy
The Atlantic: Trump’s Legacy Is the Death of Truth
Explores how Trump undermined democracy and normalized political violence, setting the stage for events like Jan. 6.Democratic Party and Marginalized Communities
The Guardian: How Democrats Have Failed Black Voters
Highlights how Black Americans have been taken for granted despite being a key voting bloc.Jan. 6th and the GOP’s Role
The New York Times: The Republican Party’s Role in the Capitol Riot
Analyzes how the Republican Party helped fuel the insurrection and continues to undermine democracy.The Push for Debt Cancellation
NPR: Why Canceling Student Debt Is an Economic Necessity
Discusses how student debt disproportionately affects marginalized communities and why action is overdue.Bipartisanship as a Shield
The Washington Post: The Problem with "Unity"
Examines how calls for unity often serve to silence legitimate grievances and avoid accountability.
Moving Forward: A Demand for Accountability
We’re done playing nice. We refuse to be told to "calm down" when our communities continue to suffer. If the Democrats want to earn our trust, they must start protecting us with the same urgency they’ve shown for protecting themselves. And if they won’t? We’ll step into their roles and fix this ourselves.
Because we are no longer content to sit by while our lives, our rights, and our futures are treated as bargaining chips. The time for polite outrage is over.
