The 2016 presidential election has been one of the most polarizing, politically-heated debates to date. Throughout this past year, millions of people have made vulgar complaints and threats about both Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton over social media, blogs, and several other forms of internet communication. The severity of these complaints ranged anywhere between calling a candidate dishonest, to a stupid bigot without morality nor common sense; however, the complaint that beared the most popularity this election season was the threat to move out of the country if an unfavorable candidate gets elected.

Our country encourages the flow and exchange of different political ideas and opinions during each election season. The United States’ freedom of speech is the backbone for the development of all of these different opinions; therefore, there is no problem when a person decides to criticize another party or candidate either online or in person. Nevertheless, there is a fine line between expressing your political opinion and contradicting our country’s patriotic values.

If a citizen of the United States threatens to leave this country because a disliked presidential candidate wins the election, then they do not respect this beautiful nation of which millions of people around the world wish they were apart of. Not only are they undermining the sovereignty of the newly-elected president, but they are not understanding the privilege they have to live in a country that contains both unprecedented freedom and prosperity, and international economic and political dominance.

Therefore, if you cannot put your political ambitions and selfishness aside for the next four years and want to leave this country, fine. Leave. We don’t want you. Those who whine and say they want to leave do not deserve to stay here. It’s as simple as that.

Not to spoil their plans, but applying for citizenship in surrounding countries, especially Canada, is even more difficult than that of the United States. So these people should probably figure out where they would like to move to, let alone see if they’re eligible to move there, before preaching their departure.

As a citizen of the United States, you are a participant; a participant of one of the most successful, influential societies this world has ever seen. With this in mind, if there happens to be a poor choice of presidency, we will survive. We will not perish in the next four years. But, if you still believe you have the desire to leave, start saving up for a plane ticket, and don’t plan on coming back.