If I were to summarize the theme for this election cycle, I would have to say it's "revolutions". By portraying himself as a change from the typical, corporate-financed politicians who normally run, Donald Trump was able to clinch the Republican nomination, while Bernie Sanders gave Clinton a run for her money by promising a political revolution to get money out of politics. However, as Sanders was unable to claim the Democratic nomination, many of his supporters are now looking to third party candidates such as Libertarian Gary Johnson or Green Party Jill Stein over Hillary Clinton as their way of continuing the revolution. Ultimately though, what many of these people fail to acknowledge is the inherent privilege in their decision.
Yes, privilege.
Nowadays, "privilege" has become somewhat of a loaded term, able to rile people up even at the slightest mention. But, at its core, privilege simply means that there are some things afforded to certain people based on circumstances they cannot control, particularly by their birth. Privilege is the ability to go to better funded public schools that have more resources to spend on students simply because you were born into a family that lives in a wealthy area. Privilege is the ability to exist in shops, restaurants, and public spaces without the fear that someone will violently confront you for your skin color. And privilege is the ability to vote for a third party, even if that means risking a Trump presidency.
I'm not saying it's impossible for a third party candidate to ever win an election. However, with only three months left until the election and neither Gary Johnson nor Jill Stein polling high enough to earn a place at a debate, it's highly fanciful to think that any third party candidate has an even halfway decent chance at winning the 2016 election. So while voting third party may not equal a vote for Trump, it sure does make his job easier.
For many Americans, this election is still about the political revolution that Bernie Sanders spent months campaigning about. However for millions of others, it has now become about survival. The clash of Bernie versus Hillary symbolized the will of the people and fair elections versus the status quo and corporate funding. However, the conflict of Hillary Clinton against Donald Trump is much graver.
This November, millions of Americans, myself included, will cast our vote for Hillary Clinton, not because we think she's the best person for the job, or to reward her for her campaign tactics. We will do it because we know the alternative is living in a world where our friends and family will be unable to visit us because of their religion. We will do it because we know if we don't then the pride we gained to be with our loved ones will quickly be forced back into shame. And we will do it knowing that if we fail, we may become the next victims of crime perpetrated by those who feel that Donald Trump has legalized their hatred.
The ability to vote, even outside of the two main parties, is one of the most essential freedoms of this country. And if you really want a government with more third party representation, vote them in during your local and state elections. Even try raising money for candidates now itself for the next election. But if you are voting third party to make a statement or to continue a revolution, don't get mad at your friends for voting to survive.
