Last week we, like many other spectators around the world, couldn’t take our eyes off the U.S. election. When the results were finally announced and Donald Trump was declared the next president, we asked you for your reactions, emotions and reflections on this pivotal moment.

Here’s what you had to say. These opinions are those of our readers and not necessarily shared by Broadview. The responses have also been lightly edited for clarity. 

“I am dismayed and fearful of what Trump will do. Hopefully good, honest people find ways to be heard, and Kamala Harris finds wonderful new ways to serve.”

          — Sandra Child, Calgary, Alta.  

“I was truly confident that most Americans would line up on the side of reason and responsibility. They had a choice between a highly qualified woman of colour and a misogynistic, convicted criminal / wannabe dictator. How could it possibly be a close race? 

I had naively made the assumption that most Americans are like those that I know: reasonable, industrious people, aware of the world around them. Well, I was wrong. I was beyond disappointed to learn that my take on the American people could have been so misguided. For reasons beyond my comprehension, most U.S. citizens have made it clear that they would prefer the aforementioned lying, fuzzy-minded bigot over a clear-headed woman to represent their country on the world stage.

I’ve since realized that the “world stage” has never been of interest to the average American. A “me first” mentality has always been prominent in his country, and Donald Trump knew how to exploit that through fear and hatred. Unfortunately, the fearful and the spiteful rewarded him.”

          — Evan Brett, Langley, B.C.  

“I have been active in Canadian politics since the 1970s, volunteering and serving in various roles within one of our federal parties. I’m often struck by how little Canadians seem to engage in our own country’s political campaigns, yet seem to be highly emotionally invested in U.S. ones. Have Canadians unconsciously become the United States’ 51st state in the past few years?

I don’t understand why so many Canadians feel such a strong attachment to our southern neighbour, but don’t exhibit the same attachment to our own country. Several of my family members, friends and acquaintances travel to the U.S. to shop, go on holiday and attend sporting and entertainment events to a far greater extent than they appear to do in Canada. They express pride when their children attend prestigious American universities or secure impressive jobs in the U.S. At the same time, they criticize and even feel superior to U.S. politics, while closely following every election cycle with intense interest.

It constantly amuses and perplexes me.”

          — Doug Arrand, Kingston, Ont.  

“Elections today seem to be less about morals, compassion, empathy, or democracy and more about personal gain, fueled by populism, rage farming, and, too often, blaming others.

It’s worth considering what this shift means for faith communities, as they may increasingly need to take up the role of caretakers as governments step back from social responsibility.”

          — John Ryerson, Toronto   

“The election wasn’t about Republicans vs. Democrats, it was about Trump vs. everyone else. Trump effectively co-opted the Republican party for his own benefit, much of which is to feed his narcissistic, egotistical and, frankly, despicable agenda. However, the Republicans allowed themselves to be co-opted, and must bear responsibility for that.

My one criticism of the Democratic campaign is that they failed to fully acknowledge the economic pain felt across the nation. But lowering taxes on a country carrying a $36-trillion debt hardly seems like much of a sensible solution, and Trump is unlikely to do anything more than window-dress this issue. 

For now, I’ll simply hope that some reasonable people can bring ethical thinking and decision-making to the next four years of Trump’s term.”

          — Jim Kells, Saskatoon, Sask. 

“On Tuesday night I went to bed full of hope that the American voters would finally elect a woman president and set the United States on a path of compassionate leadership. I was in total shock when I learned that instead, a convicted criminal would become president of the supposedly greatest nation on earth. Is everybody so full of hate for their fellow human that this is what they choose? 

Those Christians who have endorsed such hatred surely have forgotten Jesus’s commands to love our fellow man as ourselves. I have been heartsick since the election and cannot bear to watch Donald Trump as he spews his hatred for everything decent and kind.”

          —June Dickson, Scarborough, Ont. 

“I’ve never prayed as hard as I did the month before the election. When the results were announced, I felt numb—as I’m sure many others did. Part of me wants to say, ‘well, you get what you deserve.’ But not everyone voted for Donald Trump, and they don’t deserve to bear the brunt of his wrath. 

Now, my prayer is for us to find ways to bring hope to the world; for Canada to be a nation that leads in the ways of holiness and grace. And I pray that we don’t make the same mistake.”

          — Dianne Hill, Dartmouth, N.S. 

“I am just so sad. I truly thought that Americans were better than this. Now, I fear for so many people—especially those who actually keep the country running, as well as those who are marginalized and may become collateral damage under the new president.”

          — Mary McGuire, Grand Bend, Ont.  

“I am deeply saddened and terribly worried for the people of the United States, for democracy, for the health and well-being of our country, and our precious, fragile, wounded world. It is hard to understand how Americans chose to elect a toxic narcissist filled with so much hatred (again).

I am so afraid, and yet so grateful to be alive. So grateful to be loved and to love.  

As Tommy Douglas quoted, “I am hurt, but I am not slain. I shall lay me down and bleed a while, then rise and fight again.”

“Courage my friends, it is not too late to build a better world.” 

We are alive! 

May your day be filled with hope, courage and love.

For those of you with faith in a higher power: “God grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change;. Courage to change the things I can;. And the wisdom to know the difference.””

          — Mark Wartman, Regina

I’m deeply concerned about the re-election of Donald Trump, but I hope Canadians will look south and see what happens when right-wing populism gains power, then choose a different path for our own country. No politician or party will be our saviour—we only have one of those! Centre and centre-left politicians need to understand what people are really looking for: Canadians want to see an improvement in the cost of living and a sense of hope for the future. It’s easy to blame immigrants, other nations, or even other generations for today’s challenges, but what we need are honest conversations and concrete plans for change.

Don’t promise us the moon—we won’t believe it, and you won’t be able to deliver.

—Heidi Koschzeck, Victoria