Why are people voting for Trump? Are they all that stupid?

This is a topic that hits very close to home for this American.

Growing up in a conservative, republican household, I have always been taught and raised with certain ideologies. Both of my parents are conservatives and always have been. I was taught that capitalism keeps the country running, being a republican serves in everyone's best interests, and that liberals mean well, but have no real sense of how to run the nation. For my father, he despised the idea of the government helping our family. On a very low income and trying to support us on his struggling business, he was determined to make it work because it was his job - not the president's - to provide for us, even if we did meet the qualifications for government aid. In his mind, the liberal idea is to make everyone on the same page: regardless of income or hard work, the playing field should be leveled.

And he isn't wrong.

To some, that makes sense; to him, that's unfair. He struggled and worked incredibly hard to pay rent and keep a roof over our heads, put food on the table, and raise his kids alongside my mother, who also decided in recent years to get a part-time job to help out with the expenses. If he could do it all with so little, and no help from the government, why did Joe down the road get bailouts and food stamps for his pack of smokes and bourbon?

Trump is a lot of things to those watching around the world. A bigot, a buffoon, an imbecile unfit to run a country. He is intimidating to those not lining up with his "Make America Great Again" ideals, laughable to our international friends watching, and infuriating to those who feel his presidency would step on all the progress that has been made in the area of social justice.

But to many conservatives, like my father, he represents something else entirely.

He represents a fresh start. I think we can all agree that Trump is one of a kind. He is blunt, straight-forward with what his stances are, and represents the business aspect of politics and emphasizes its importance. Trump stands as a result of all the hard work my father has fought through all his life. He promotes himself as a politician like no other - as someone who can stand up and say the things that he does without fear of backlash, Trump is gutsy and refreshing. And with a slogan like "Make American Great Again," well, that's all my father has ever wanted for his family.

My father and I butt heads when it comes to political ideologies. Of course, we argue when the topic of Trump comes up. But that does not, in any way, make his opinions invalid. That does not, in any way, make him stupid. My father is the wisest and most hard working man I know, and has guided me through everything in my life, regardless of circumstance. He exudes qualities that I respect and demand in any relationship: love, strength and patience. I am one of his biggest fans.

So, the next time Trump comes up in the news and your knee-jerk reaction is "Pfft. Those Americans. What idiots!" - I urge you to think. Everyone's situation is different. You cannot know someone's reasoning for their political views without knowing what they've been through or believe. Instead of sitting in front of your television or computer screen with popcorn to see what crap-storm Americans have hailed down next, get up and do some research. Educate yourself on why there are Trump supporters. You don't have to agree with them - I certainly don't - but you should not assume they are all brainwashed imbeciles. We are all human, with our own unique human experiences, and while, yes, some are inherently cruel and racist bigots, the reality is the majority are not. You can think Trump is an ass, and so are his supporters, but be careful with assuming. Assuming makes a...well, you know....out of you and me.