One thing that I have learned over my 46+ years of life is that America is resilient and full of beautiful and diverse people that are mostly honorable and loving. Yet again, I am struck with the frustration of the medias portrayal of the election and Americans in general. We are made to believe that the country is completely divided and doomed to failure. Nothing could be farther from the truth. The vocal minority is protesting and vandalizing in an effort to sway public opinion. I am convinced that if the tables were turned, the same would happen for the other side. There will always be a vocal minority with an agenda.

Most people that I talk to had a hard time with this election because our two candidates were severely flawed in different ways, yet the process played out and most are praying for a middle of the road agenda that honors the working American and their children. Most want America to thrive and grow and be great. Most know that we have a lot of problems and have a lot of work to do. Most love this country and have no desire to move,  contrary to Hollywood bluster. Most love their children and want them to live in the same great America that our parents did and we are.

Regardless of which side of the political fence that you reside on, this is a moment for you to teach your children what it is to be American. We accept the outcomes of events that do not go our way. We unite and push the country forward. We love our neighbor and accept our differences as life. We protest peacefully and with vigor to change unjust rules and actions. We fight for the greater good. What we don’t do is whine and tell our children that we are doomed.

Sit down with your children and explain that America is a place where people of all colors, creeds and religions have come together to live like no place on earth in human history. While imperfect, it is still unbelievably real and beautiful. While growing, it is still our home. While partially divided, it is still united.

In the words of Erin Brockovich, “We have come together to find a solution to our issues.” “Choice is always a process that is there and never changes despite the thing that you are choosing.”

I am a first generation American whose father and mother were accepted into this country as refugees from war torn Poland. They waited for years to be accepted while living in refugee camps in Europe. I am grateful every day of my life that America accepted me and my family. I am grateful that america let my father join the military, obtain the GI bill and become an American citizen.

I choose to be American when it is great and also when it is down. It is like a marriage in that way. There will be ups and downs but at the end of the day, I would not trade my wife or America in for any thing that your mind can conjure as bait.

On this day, spend 20 minutes teaching your children that we collectively are in this together for America. I choose to pray for President elect Trump and his team that they represent the best of us and lead us in the right direction as I would have for Mrs. Clinton. If that does not happen, then we start again in four years.

Dr. Chris Magryta is a physician at Salisbury Pediatric Associates. Contact him at newsletter@salisburypediatrics.com