This presidential election, we must accept the will of the people

This is the most peculiar election in modern history. Never has more animosity been expressed toward the two candidates, and never has trust in them been so low.

What is in danger of happening when the results of the election are revealed is a rebellion by opponents of the winning candidate.

We’ve already experienced a rebellion of sorts against the present administration. From the beginning, Republicans in Congress were determined to block as much of President Barack Obama’s agenda as possible. He has been under constant attack from the conservative media and the subject of vitriol in the social media. It can only get worse in 2017.

Once the election is over, the American thing to do would be to bite the bullet and accept the will of the people, no matter how badly it hurts. It should be a citizen’s duty to stand behind the winner and support him or her, thus giving them a chance to accomplish what the electorate willed them to do.

That isn’t likely to happen. We can only hope our democracy doesn’t unravel with the intense opposition and hatred our next president will face.

This story was originally published September 26, 2016 at 9:07 PM with the headline "This presidential election, we must accept the will of the people."