Hometown broke my heart
Pensacola raised me. I’m proud of my hometown and I’m proud of how I turned out.
As a Southern lady, I was raised to have manners. I was taught that class couldn’t be bought and that a person’s character said more about who they were than their words ever could. I was brought up to stand up to bullies and to protect the underdog. Growing up in the Bible Belt, I was raised with Christian ideals that I strive to live by. I was taught not to hate, not to judge, and to “love my neighbor.”
For all of these reasons, I am confused and heartbroken by the fact that this area has become a stronghold for a political candidate who goes against everything I have ever been taught about how to treat people.
I was raised a conservative in what is unquestionably one of the most conservative regions in the entire United States. When I turned 18 and could register to vote, I didn’t even have to think about what party. My party was that of God-fearing, Jesus-loving patriots who flew the flag, honored those who fought for our country, helped small businesses and vehemently defended my rights as an American citizen. It was the party of apple pies, and “yes ma’am” and “no sir.” The party of hard work and the American dream. I was a Republican and believed my party displayed what was best about America.
I have always been proud to be a Republican, but this year, I am terrified by what I see my party becoming. Instead of an “umbrella party” that welcomes everyone, I see a party whose front-runner for the presidency wants to rid the nation of diversity. I see a party allowing a man with no experience in government, politics or international relations to exploit people’s fears and encourage them to hate those who look, speak, worship or think differently. How can we be the party that fights to the death to protect the words “one nation under God” when we are essentially worshipping a golden idol whose message is anything but godly?
I don’t know how we got here. I don’t know when it became socially acceptable to be a bully. What I do know is that Donald Trump will be the end of our party if we continue to condone and encourage his actions. Independents, moderates and young people will not vote for him. If Donald Trump becomes the nominee, we will not only lose the presidency, but we will likely lose Congress as well.
Donald Trump has already set our party back 20 years by not only exposing, but parading some of the viler, more disgusting traits exhibited by of those on the fringes of our party. Because of what we as a party have allowed him to do, to the rest of the world, the Republican Party of today is one of bigotry, ignorance, intolerance and hatred. That is not my Republican Party and not one I want to be associated with. It is also not a party that can survive.
The Republican Party is better than this. We deserve better than this. And, luckily, it’s not too late. We need to remember who we are and what we stand for. It is imperative that we hold tight to our morals and ideals. We need to return to the reason we joined the party to begin with — to be the people who stand up for what is right, moral and just, and fight against tyranny in our world — and start fighting against tyranny in our party.
Ryan Wiggins is a Republican political strategist and Pensacola native.
Ryan Wiggins
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