Not living in the United States during this election season has given me a bird's eye view of the political forefront. It has also allowed me to see the ridiculousness of this particular election without holding a lot of bias.
As I’ve met people who don’t, and probably never will, live in the United States, their perception of the political forefront has helped shape my opinion on this year’s candidates. This isn’t about my personal opinion on the candidates per say, but more about the absurd way this election has unfolded.
This election seems to have turned into a lot of spotlight put on the wrong issues, and sometimes it is hard to differentiate the seriousness of an election from a soap opera. The world is full of tragedy and war and in dire need of some intense policy change, but it is also beautiful and full of people who are selfless and courageous and working tirelessly to secure a better future.
The changes that we seek will only be achieved through unity -- we can’t divide and conquer anymore, so why does it seem that, now more than ever, Americans' loyalty lies so heavily with a party instead of with the people?
I don’t think it's news that we have a candidate that holds some radical beliefs -- just for the record, people aren’t candy, but with that, why can’t we seem to let go of the invisible strings that tie us to a party and understand that in order to get things done we will have to compromise?
As I take classes in a different country and hear the political beliefs of different people, I have come to understand that the way we view politics in the United States isn’t without flaw. Sometimes doing what is best isn't going align with one party's platform, but rather somewhere in the middle. What is right isn't always going to come from the right side, or the left side.
As the election approaches, I think it is vital to remember that we live in a democracy, so the people have the power. As the time to approach the voting polls grows nearer, I hope we all understand that it is more important to speak up for equality and what is right than it is to be blindly loyal to a candidate's agenda.
We have the power, so let's make sure that whichever candidate is elected to be the face of our nation uses that power to create the change that we demand.
