The year is 2016. The United States is the wealthiest, most powerful and diverse nation in the world. Yet, it still has a handful of problems that trouble most people. Everyday in the news, you see a brand new horrible story. Recently in Texas, five police officers were killed. Before that, a police officer shot and killed a black man, which did not feel so unordinary. These types of events are happening so often in our great nation that it feels expected to see one every time we turn on the TV to watch the news. The violent acts we have seen, including the Orlando shootings, have sparked new debate on gun control. Social topics are being touched on such as racism in the country and bigotry towards homosexuals. Even more interestingly, this is a special year in America, election year. Right now we have a democratic nominee and a republican nominee, both widely disliked. Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. Donald Trump is a businessman who has been unsuccessful in his line of work as well as showing great examples of his misanthropic character. He makes misogynistic remarks during interviews and rallies that demean women. He also shows great bigotry towards Muslims and Mexicans, saying there needs to be a deportation of Muslims from the USA and that a wall needs will be built on the border by the Mexican government to keep out their citizens who he has called “killers and rapists.” Mr. Trump puts no intellectual thought into his speeches, rather making very opaque, simple statements that do not give any information on his policy ideas or how he believes to implement them. Mr. Trump has also advocated for violence during his rallies, praised evil people such as Saddam Hussein and Kim Jong-un, and blatantly lied to his supporters on numerous occasions. He has not shown the temperament that is needed to be the commander in chief of the United States and its striking military force.
On the opposite side of the political table sits Hillary Clinton. She is much more experienced in Politics and the presidency than Mr. Trump, having been the first lady when President Bill Clinton was in office and she served as the Secretary of State under President Obama. But she also is not the most likable candidate for a number of reasons. Firstly, she has a long record of lying. There have been interviews in the past where she has been asked on a specific policy issue, such as gay marriage. She said that she opposed it, but made a huge switch in 2013 and backed gay marriage. She has also spoken out against Wall Street but she is happy to accept large contributions from financial, law and corporate firms. The latest lies have come from the subject of her e-mails. She kept classified emails on a private server filled with dozens of emails that were considered secret, or top secret, and thousands that were confidential. When she was asked about sending or receiving top secret information on the emails, she replied that she had not. However, the FBI, who conducted the investigation of her carelessness, informed the public that she indeed did. Hillary Clinton has been related to a number of cases where her involvement has been very questionable, such as her role in the Benghazi attacks which damaged her accountability, responsibility and truthfulness. It seems that Secretary Clinton is willing to say whatever makes her look best rather than the truth. The temperament of Donald Trump has been called to question, but more people are starting to reveal stories of Hillary Clinton’s as well. According to workers in the Secret Service and the White House, she was not the friendliest of first ladies, reportedly cursing at agents and showing a lack of politeness. It seems fair that people are skeptical of a vote for her as well as a vote for Mr. Trump.
We have two presidential candidates, one from each of the two major parties in the United States. Of course, both have qualities that a President needs, but the problems of these two cast a shadow of skepticism over their more positive qualities. All of the mistakes they have made have caused great concern for their legitimate consideration to be the President of the United States. The point that I need to make clear is this: we can do better. I am speaking to all citizens of the United States, but mainly the millennial generation because I am a member. I speak to all of you because we are up and coming. Rising like the sun on a spring morning after it had rained all night. We all have witnessed the state of the country, and it feels childish. Not only can we do better, we must do better. To have two candidates who have their own respected list of faults that seem tiresomely lengthy is ridiculous. Donald Trump shows the racist and immature qualities that should be eradicated at this point in society. Hillary Clinton has shown recklessly simple mistakes that we would not expect a political official to be making, especially when she wants to run for President. Seeing these two make it to the final round is disappointing. It is disappointing that citizens who are more qualified morally and politically cannot step forward. Of course, money in politics does help these two candidates. It is money that stops most potential runners to put their name forward. It is still scary that the best we can do are two people who have lied to us repeatedly. What is even more frightening is there are large populations of citizens that truly believe in the horrors that Donald Trump has preached. New KKK organizations are in the media talking about him as if he were their supreme leader. The United States is in a time of great divide.
Divided we may be, but the younger generations are now growing up. It is so utterly important that the youth see what is being done today and actually take time to think on it. We have a responsibility to look at the problems we are facing and fix them together as our generation gets older and more involved in the political scene. There needs to be less division. No more democrats versus republicans. A united nation is what we need for a healthy society. There used to be a time when two people of opposing ideas could have a thoughtful conversation to solve a problem without engaging in violence or spewing hatred. Racism and bigotry are unacceptable at this point in time. We know how terrible racism is from our own history. To see that it is still so apparent in today’s society is appalling. We must stomp out its embers now before the fire reignites. Thinking on our own has never become so important. We need to research all possibilities before ignorantly forming an opinion. We have the potential to do great things if we pay attention to what is happening now, but to do so, we need to question all of it. We need to question if what we hear and see is right or wrong. This generation is growing up. As it does, it is our responsibility to move on from the mistakes of generations before us. The world is evolving. We are an adapting group of citizens that will be able to mold the future of the world for the better..only if we learn from the mistakes now. Division, violence, hatred, racism, ignorance and greed are what we face. As the new kids on the block of Washington, we need to be up for the task. The future counts on us.
