I do not get mad easily. However, having to watch the State of the Union Tuesday, Feb. 4th for a communications course made my blood boil for a few reasons. One, for the part I tuned in for (which admittedly was the later part), the claim made that every man and woman seen under God have equal respect and opportunity to succeed seemed outlandish: does no one else think of the deportation camps that children and families crossing the border were put in? Does no one else think about Trump’s reported assaults on women? Does no one else think of Trump’s blatant abuse of power that was the grounds for his impeachment?

But I digress. The action that boiled my blood the most was Nancy Pelosi ripping Trump’s State of the Union speech after the event had concluded. Until she ripped up the speech, I had nothing to validate her supposed bad rap circulated by Republicans. Then she ripped up the speech. I wish someone had beseeched her not to.

I understand the rivalry between Trump and Pelosi, with Trump disrespecting Pelosi on many occasions. I am absolutely sure she has wanted to rip something of his for a long time. However, at this point, I feel many expect such actions from Trump (either praising him for his aggressive nature and others opposing his actions as unpresidential). Whatever view you take it does not matter; Trump lashes out. Sure, it is not fair to hold some to a double standard, but at this point, it is what it is. However, if Democrats want a fighting chance in the upcoming election, or to save America’s soul of democracy as I heard it explained today, they cannot stoop to these levels. Ripping apart a State of the Union address not only signifies disrespect but a national dismissal of the President and his accomplishments.

It is easy to be angry. It is easy to be a Republican and be mad at Democrats for some of the loony, radical candidates they are putting up for the office. It is easy to be a Democrat and be mad at Republicans for not swaying from party unity to disrupt Trump’s abuse of power. It is so easy.

However, I still have to check myself. If Obama or another powerful Democratic male source were in Pelosi’s role, would I be as upset? Would I find solace in them challenging Trump’s domination of “realness” that many of his supporters praise him for? I do not know. Honestly, I think I would still be mad, but less so than now. I also acknowledge that I am in a clear mindset that whatever precedent Trump has now set, I want to be reversed with the next President. So in that vein, I still think ripping the speech reduced the level of professionalism Democrats were trying to maintain. After the mess of the Iowa caucus, the party needs to put the upcoming election as its highest priority, and have faith that a strong candidate will take on Trump professionally, and adapt his rude “realness” to a new “realness” within the presidency. Instead of matching rude gestures, Democrats must work the current system to their advantage. Trump is too strong of a political persona to take down by one ripped speech. If Pelosi can maintain her and the Democratic party’s composure, there is nothing valid for Republicans or Trump to spread.