Letter: It's not easy being a Republican in R.I.

Posted 1/27/25

To the Editor,

This week marked an important day for the nation; On Monday, January 20th, President-elect Donald J. Trump was sworn in as 47th President of the United States. After winning 31 …

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Letter: It's not easy being a Republican in R.I.

Posted

To the Editor,

This week marked an important day for the nation; On Monday, January 20th, President-elect Donald J. Trump was sworn in as 47th President of the United States. After winning 31 states, 312 Electoral College votes, and 7 “swing” states, it culminated the largest political comeback in modern U.S. history.

Hopeful for many, somber for some, the following is indisputable: Donald J. Trump is now, once again, President of the United States.
The road to this week in the 2024 election cycle marked an especially difficult time for America to come together and agree on anything. Neighbors were pitted against each other for simple differences of opinions.

For me, 2024 marked an especially difficult year as an America-First RI Republican, despite national results. It started last January, when on the cold downtown streets of Bristol, I was called “fascist” and “mentally ill” for collecting signatures for Trump among other Republican candidates. This lasted throughout 2024, culminating in December when a perfect stranger badgered me for me who I voted for and chastised me not pushing against all Republicans. It was hypocrisy from the side that claims tolerance and understanding.

And yet, my political affiliation never wavers. At my home, from election week through today, stands a Trump 2024 display. It stands, not only in support of Trump, the candidate, his policies and views, but for the First Amendment: We live in a country where we cannot fear public free expression – especially important following the Trump assassination attempt.

I hold no hatred for these experiences; no glee for political discontent today. True, some pearl-clutchers and partisans praise RI and the Northeast for continuing to vote blue, but they bring no solutions to the table, and don’t line up with RI’s plurality of unaffiliated/independent voters.

Both sides have seen what continued disagreement and gridlock is like. Democrats and progressives pushed back against Trump’s first term to no avail; Anti-Biden voters did the same.

But now that the election is over, things can change. We, the blue state voters of all political stripes and points of view, can take this week’s inauguration as the ultimate challenge: talk to your neighbor (even those you disagree with) and try and find common ground. Talk to your elected officials and try to advocate for multi-partisan solutions even if you feel like only one voice.

Trump is now your President. For the next four years, you, the Rhode Island voter, the East Bay voter, any blue state voter has an option: accept the Trump 47th presidency and advocate for bipartisan policies to solve more problems and help all people, or continue to resist and make white-noise against leadership you have no choice but to acknowledge.

This week ushers in not only a new era for that nation, but an opportunity: for people, including our state and local elected officials, to stop playing partisan games and work with the new national leadership on specific issues that will help our towns, regions, and entire state. Only if we give faith to a ‘Make RI Great Again’ mindset will we both trust in government and see a better Ocean State together.

Will Sousa Grapentine
112 Mulberry Rd.

Will Sousa Grapentine is Vice Chair of the Bristol Republican Town Committee and a Delegate of the Rhode Island Republican Party State Central Committee.

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