I don't know much about the candidates stances on pressing issues. I couldn't even begin to explain the different fallacies or contradictions each candidate has made this election season.

If we're being honest most of what I know about the election comes from Facebook and trending hashtags. I'm told by my Christian friends and family the country is doomed, and my non-Christian friends seem to agree. Although both friend groups seem preoccupied mocking this election than voicing their support for a specific candidate.

Personally, I don't know who I support. And since we're being honest, I might add I haven't taken the time to look into who I support or believe can help lead this nation.

I know I like Bernie Sanders. Not his politcal stances or plans for if he served in office, like I said I don't know those. I like that he has enough support to run as an Independent if he doesn't win the Democratic bid.

The United States is one of the few countries that is run on a two party system. An A or B system, and the leadership simply flip flops between red and blue, donkey and elephant.

Then there is Bernie Sanders.

For a second can we all just take a moment and stop. Stop hating Hillary Clinton. To stop hating Donald Trump. To stop hating campaigns and hating on the freedom of running for office. Can we just all stop and remember our mom's telling us, "If you can't say anything nice don't say anything at all." There are issues in everyone's campaign, over generalizations in everyone's speeches. This article itself has over generalizations, but that doesn't invalidate my message. Does it?

The beauty of the U.S. is that we have freedom. We have the inalienable right to run for office, to have a voice and to support who we desire.

That freedom doesn't validate the right to tear others down for trying. There's a fine line between accountability and being rude or aggressive, and that line is determined by relationship. We have the responsibility to evaluate our own beliefs, and to show our support. But we don't have to show support for one candidate by tearing down others. Tearing down others doesn't make us informed citizens: it makes us bullies.

This isn't high school. The presidential candidates aren't running for student council president or Prom king or queen. The candidates are running for president of a nation, a nation others look to for aid and example. What example are we to the world, if we're preoccupied hating each other than being respectable?

I like Bernie Sanders because he reminds me that the only one stopping ourselves from stepping up, is ourselves. His campaign reminds me I was given a freedom that was meant to be used, not forgotten.