As election day neared, I, like many Alabamians, grew apprehensive. I had anxiety and could not sleep.

This election was like a bad movie that you get halfway through, and (although you know the acting is atrocious, and the writing is laughable) you couldn't walk out, as you had already invested in the ticket and popcorn.

I stood out in the Gulf Shores rain, surrounded by a homogeneous crowd that would make even the Scandinavian Countries take a second look. It took about an hour, and, having no raincoat or umbrella I welcomed the white pillar that provided me shelter from the looming storm. I got my passport ready, handed it to the elderly volunteer, took my ballot, and then, sat down, and with my neatest handwriting, scribbled "NONE OF THE ABOVE".

You see, in this election, those who have worked for a country and candidates who want limited government in both the economic and social sense were men without a country.

We had no candidate. The Libertarian Party left us with an empty suit.

The Democrats had stolen the nomination from a  man with principles and gave it to a woman who maybe the most unprincipled politician in the history of Washington. The Republican Party had the nomination ripped away by a larger than life, self-proclaimed patriot who is the kind of person that, when in high school, even though he was your friend, you wouldn't invite over, as your parents would have scoffed at the brutish behavior.

I had no choice, and, seeing as how the electoral college keeps our Republic churning along, my vote did not really matter, anyhow, as I live in Alabama, and Alabama will be a red state for the foreseeable future.

When it was announced that Trump had won around midnight, I was awake. Projections had come in from Wisconsin and Michigan, and I was surprised. I figured he may win one, but not both.

And, I figured there would be some "melting" from some of my friends on social media, but as I scrolled through Facebook and the internet, I was awestruck by the overwhelming and over-the-top posts about "setting this country back" and the reaction from gay people. It was truly frightening to know that an election of a man who defeated both political parties, the media, and the DC Establishment could lead to such fear from seemingly every corner of our nation.

I understood that powerful elites and those with a vested interest in our power structure did not want to change the game like Trump would, but I literally had no idea why seemingly normal, everyday citizens would fear the man.

The deep fear that some people have displayed has been eye-opening. After some messages to friends and clients and acquaintances, I began to understand where they were coming from. There is a deep belief that he and Pence will work to overturn gay marriage.

The official Republican platform cements the belief in the definition of a marriage between one man and one woman. As a young American, I cannot see that happening and as a registered Republican, I can literally think of 274 issues that I care more about, but the fear from the LGBTQ community is real, and it should be addressed. I have tried personally to alleviate those fears, but it is something that must be addressed on a national level.

There is also a fear from minorities that all Trump voters are racist, and the only fact he was elected was because of white supremacists. I can understand those with families, friends and co-workers who are not native to this land, who have a fear of the president-elect, as he has made a campaign out of enforcing our borders and immigration.

I don't know the next president, but from everything I can tell, the man is far from racist. He may be crude, brash, and uncouth, but he seemingly surrounds himself by different races and genders alike. And while some of his fringe supporters may be white nationalists, we should not allow fringe supporters to illustrate the entire electorate.

However, let us also be truthful with ourselves: racism is alive and well in our country. In our state. In our communities. We may have elected a black man to lead our nation, but the "post racial society" is far from a reality. And, if we are honest with ourselves, it may never be here.

As long as our education system lags behind, as long as our criminal justice system creates enormous racial disparities, and as long as we cannot come together for a difficult and reflective conversation, racism will continue to seep through our society like the dark clouds of a thunderstorm.

I chose "None of the Above" because, to me, it was the choice between a crook and a man I saw unfit. I could not understand why my fellow citizens were so enamored with a crook. After seeking understanding, I realize most of them were not for the crook, just against their understandable fear of the other man.

We should all take this and every opportunity to understand one another and seek compassion for the other side. Not hide in fear or lash out in anger or misunderstanding. A wise man once sang all we need is "Peace, Love, and Understanding". We should value our differences, and not allow what divides us to keep us from growing together.