As the whole world knows by now, Barack Obama won the election on Nov. 6 and will be serving a second term as President of the United States.

Anyone might have guessed this, but I voted for Obama. There were a number of reasons for that choice.

I am forever suspicious of conservative economics, because they seem to favor only one group of people. I am devoted to issues concerning the rights of women in this country to do what they want with their bodies. I am terrified of a world in which one person’s religious beliefs are forced on everyone else. And I’m a strong advocate for LGBT rights.

When I voted, I hoped that the people voting with me were making informed decisions, that they weren’t voting based on rumors or sensationalist journalism, and that they weren’t subscribing to the “Well, Obama hasn’t done anything” philosophy without doing any research of their own about his accomplishments thus far as our president.

Watching Romney and Obama neck and neck all night on election night was incredibly stressful for me. I honestly couldn’t fathom how I might react if Obama didn’t win. I would have been devastated and maybe a little terrified. I know that  seems a bit dramatic, but in comparison to how some conservative people reacted to Obama’s victory, I’m feeling okay about it.

I’m not saying all conservative people are crazy. That wouldn’t be fair, and it wouldn’t be true. I know a lot of really great people with really good hearts (my mom included) who voted for Romney this year. But the things some people have said and done in response to Obama’s victory are nothing short of ludicrous.

One of my favorite things I’ve heard is, “I’m moving to Canada now that Obama’s president!” There are a few ways this is funny. The first is that it ignores the fact that Obama has already been president for four years. The second is the nature of the nation where they want to move. Canada has free health care and long ago legalized gay marriage.

In case you haven’t heard, Obamacare is kind of all about making health care affordable, and he has spoken in support of gay rights. It’s probably not the place you want to be as a conservative.

The second has been the petition for secession from the United States that people in Texas have made. To be honest, I’m all for saying, “Good riddance!” But I would like to point out that it’s illegal for a state to secede. And Texas is a big state, but it would be a very small country. I wonder how well it would really do on its own.

The most disgusting thing I’ve heard so far is the regular reports of violent language and actions directed at President Obama. A young woman in California said on her Facebook that we should look on the bright side, because maybe he’ll get assassinated this term. A woman in Minnesota did a mock lynching with a chair standing in as Obama, around which she wrapped a noose and through which she stuck a bayonet.

I don’t really care what your political views are, but wishing death on someone is never okay. Regardless of your feelings about him as a president, and setting aside for a moment all of the racist implications of these actions, Obama is a human being with a family who loves him. It is never, ever acceptable to wish death on someone because of differing political views.

And regardless of your political views, he is still our president. He deserves our respect. If Romney had won the presidency, I would still have called him “President Romney,” even if I didn’t like it.

I mean, come on. Nobody likes a sore loser.

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