It is clear that nothing is more of a hot topic right now than politics. Between casual debates, prideful opinions, and the die-hards that will defend their party until their last day, 2016 has been the year of change, for sure. And no, I am not talking about change within the country. I am talking about the changes of political correctness, personal bias, and the change in mannerisms that have made our country one that has an infinite thirst for power, money, and the chance to prove others wrong.

Does this sound negative yet? Of course. All of these reasons are why I refuse to engage in any political discussion unless it is a friendly, factual conversation. I have seen lists as to why people choose to remain faithful to their chosen parties, articles that bash one another, and the consistent hunger to simply prove to one another why one party is better than the other. We plop ourselves down in front of a television to watch conventions full of screaming, tears, and, best of all, confetti, but are forgetting the true meaning behind the election. Elections are held every four years to continue the push for an ever changing economy. We are encouraged to see the chance to vote as a privileged right, one that we have earned over the course of history. So, why are we putting one another down in the process if we all share the same right to walk into a town hall and put a check mark next to a notorious name behind a curtain?

Whichever candidate you decide to vote for is your choice and your choice only. It will always be handy to be resourceful about learning the facts concerning each candidate, but, in the long run, no one will care if you tell them who you voted for in the future. It only leads to more stress at social outings, in lecture halls, and even simply just standing in line waiting for a coffee. The chance to vote, while a great opportunity to have a say in your country, does not mean the chance to bash other parties or to create chaos. It means that you, as an American, have the freedom to participate in a national event that could make the biggest difference in the world. I believe that many of us forget that we have a shot at making a change, seeing how we are all concerned with what party we belong to and how it makes us look. Just because you say you are a Republican or a Democrat does not necessarily make you a good or faithful one. You can plaster an elephant or a donkey on the back of your car because it looks good to your peers, but it does not mean that you know everything about the party. There has been a stigma for years and years associated with being part of a political party and I feel that this year has made this more clear than the past few elections that I have had the privilege of witnessing. I find it incredibly unfortunate that if many associate the party that you belong to with your income, what school you attend, which activities you have taken part in, and, most of all, your social class in society. As a college student, I have found that many say that they belong to a certain party because of these multiple aspects, but cannot name a policy or act associated with it to save their lives. Saying you are one of these parties and being active within one are two separate things, and it has been proven in society today that many are saying that they are one or the other just to sound good or back up what it is they have been taught.

I have seen “Trump” mowed into lawns and “Hillary” plastered onto billboards. I have watched both parties conventions and intend to further my education in politics by watching the alternative parties town halls. I will always be fascinated by each candidate and their abilities to persuade and state what they want to see for this country. However, I will never be forward about which party I prefer because it is my choice as an American to vote for whoever I want to vote for and even such a historical year in the world will not make a difference in my private decision.