You don’t have to claim to be any sort of political expert to understand that we are working with some highly problematic candidates in this presidential election. Whether you stand with Sanders, Clinton, or Trump you may still find yourself cringing when you imagine the future of our country under any of their leadership. From racist and sexist comments to email scandals, today’s candidates simply make Americans nervous about the well being of our country.
Throughout the history of our country, we have seen 44 different men serve as the Commander in Chief. Some of whom have been immortalized as icons of liberty and freedom, and some who are so irrelevant that we do not even remember their names.
When we look back on the lives and accomplishments of some of our most respected and admired presidents, we can identify three key characteristics that set them apart from politicians today.
1. They were driven by hope instead of fear
Fear is a dangerous force, a force that often brings human beings to commit incomprehensible acts of hatred and violence. When our country’s leaders make decisions out of fear, they often make rash decisions without analyzing the consequences that will follow. For example, after the attacks on 9/11, our country was paralyzed with fear of terrorism. President George W. Bush reacted in this state of fear by declaring war, a decision highly criticized to this day due to all the lives that were lost, and the tremendous debt the war created. In the immortalized words of John F. Kennedy, “We have nothing to fear but fear itself.” Our country needs a leader who can make decisions with inspiration and hope, and not out of desperation and fear.
2. They wanted to lead our country, not control it
It seems that too often, politicians are motivated to run for president for the power and influence that comes with the job. Such politicians do not seek to inspire and lead our nation, but to have control over it. These kinds of leaders tend to push their own political agendas and disregard the wants and needs of the American people. Being President of the United States is one of the most prestigious leadership roles available. Nations all over the world look to America and our president, as the ultimate example of a free country. To live up to the title as "leader of the free world," our president should be an influencer of good, a promoter of justice, and an enforcer of liberty.
3. They worked to unify our country, not divide it
It seems that in the current presidential race Democrats and Republicans are pinned against each other, as if we are some sort of enemies. In the early days of our country, many of our leaders protested the formation of political parties altogether because they did not want our nation to become divided. As John Adams said, “There is nothing which I dread so much as a division of the republic into two great parties, each arranged under its leader, and concerting measures in opposition to each other. This, in my humble apprehension, is to be dreaded as the greatest political evil under our Constitution.” We need a leader who can unify the American people again, and bring us together to defend liberty and freedom in a world polluted with corrupt power and terrorism. A strong president can unite Americans under a shared cause and help the country realize that our similarities are more important than our differences.
As you come to decide which candidate you support for the 2016 presidential campaign, look for a leader who can unify our country, protect our rights, keep us safe, and lead us in the right direction. If we want our country to have a successful future, we must reflect on the principles of hope, liberty, and freedom on which we were founded. We must learn from the successes of our former leaders and implement their ideologies into the way we run our country.
