Beck's Take: The United States Of America Past The 2020 Presidential Election
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BECK SALGADO
This is my first presidential election. I just missed Hillary v. Trump, and I must say it’s a lot different than what I was expecting going in.
This election feels like a matter of morals rather than politics, or even a plea for peace rather than display of partisan support.
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Just like everyone else right now I am excited to see this country fulfill its democratic destiny this November and transcend itself once more to pick the best candidate for president. Just kidding, this feels like the apocalypse and I’m absolutely losing my mind.
This is my first presidential election, I just missed Hillary v. Trump, and I must say it’s a lot different than what I was expecting going in. Getting to vote in a presidential election always seemed like it would be this glorious act of social expression where you act, in the same way that everyone else can, to advocate for the policies and platforms that you see most fit. Instead, this election feels like a matter of morals rather than politics, or even a plea for peace rather than display of partisan support. Now I know this is just the nature of politics but it seems like some of this feels a little more alarming than usual. I was asked to do this article by my Editor-In-Chief with the question of what my hopes are for this election regardless of the outcome and quite honestly, I didn’t know how to answer that. Of course, I have my own opinions on how the government should be run, but most of what came to my mind was completely exempt from that all together.
First, I thought of peace. You don’t have to go very far to figure out that the U.S is extremely divided. I think this goes far beyond the current election, but regardless the current election seems to be spotlighting the heightening tension between people in its country. I thought about when the United States of America was most unified and far and away we are at our best when there is a common enemy, but what happens when that common enemy is ourselves.
Now hang on, I know this may sound corny, but how are we to move forward as a country when we are so divided? Simply put, the way our society functions is a direct product of how its political landscape is presently constructed and as I see it, how we are operating right now is not sustainable.
To live in a country that is so hyper polarized is not the mark of a thriving or even redeemable country, and I’m not suggesting that the U.S. is past redemption, rather I’m suggesting that the path this country is on seems to be quite the opposite of what got it here. That being said, I return to my point that as a citizen of this country, it is my desperate hope that regardless of the results from this election, we can start to find a way to become more unified.
I hope that we can find peace in a way that prevents people from having their lives taken from police officers in the streets, I hope we can find peace in a way that prevents people simply trying to shop in a Walmart from being slaughtered by a racist individual and I hope we find peace in a way that breeds love within our world rather than this static standoff of hate that never seems to end.
The next thing I thought of was respect. Humans are social creatures and every significant achievement we have accomplished has in some form come from this great ability to collaborate. Knowing that, it is important to also establish that we seem to be social creatures that are unfortunately driven and/or guided by self interest. This can make things complex as our pursuit of our own individual wants, needs or fears can often clash, especially when discussing the political future of our country. Maybe this is how it’s always been, but somewhere along the way it feels like we stopped respecting each other’s opinions. Now I am in no way suggesting that all opinions are worthy of this respect — for example, people who prescribe to racist, sexist, homophobic, transphobic or xenophobic ideals — but, maybe because of the divisiveness of our current political sphere, it feels like we have no tolerance for outside opinions, and this is from administrative levels down to the common citizen. If we cannot respect and even embrace each other’s political differences how are we expected to be able to function as a society much less see any kind of positive change in this country. This is why I feel a good first step, regardless of partisan beliefs, for this country after the election is to find a way to get past this glass ceiling of communication that prevents us from finding common ground, but also more importantly from being able to support and help each other.
Lastly, just like everyone else, I want to see meaningful change that is made with the intent to benefit all that live in this country. The very essence of our democratic society has caved in on itself in a way that no longer directly serves the people, rather it weaponizes them. The officials that we elect are supposed to serve us, they should not be glorified or placed on a higher plain, they should be seen as an extension of our political beliefs. It seems like meaningful change is the least we can ask from our elected officials but also everyday the same problems that plague our society seem to persist because of a lack of that change. In a perfect world regardless of what happens on November 3rd, it will be followed by the cultivation of a more just, fair and inclusive society. I think this election presents a landmark opportunity for this country to actually do the things I hope to see, but just as much as that I think it could very well be its breaking point.