Watching the 2020 Presidential Debate was bittersweet. On one hand, it's always good to be involved and know what is going on. Normally, debates are the perfect time to find out how candidates perform under some level of pressure and how they respond to different issues. Conversely, this year's debate left me anxious and terrified for our country's future. There are plenty of memes circulating the internet about settling for the lesser of two evils, yet this has become our reality.
On a simpler, less apocalyptic note, last night sets a precedent for future discourse and civility. Donald Trump interrupted Joe Biden too many times to count, mentioned Biden's son's drug addiction, and turned the night into a popularity contest. Yep, this is our president; however, Joe wasn't innocent easier. His disrespect comes from name calling and telling Trump to shut up. While thousands of people tweeted how elated they were to hear Biden stick it to Trump, people are forgetting the fact that these grown men running for political office acted like middle school boys. Even if the next few debates are more civil, the line was crossed on September 29, making it not only possible, but extremely likely for more childish debates.
More importantly, last night demonstrated just how polarized America has become. The fact that neither of the candidates could keep their composure for less than two hours to discuss the future of our nation is downright terrifying. Something else extremely noteworthy is that neither candidate made clear what they would specifically do in office. While we have some idea due to both of their backgrounds as either President or Vice President, there were no specific policies or actions mentioned. This is something that needs to be brought into the spotlight: what are they going to do or change if they become the next President? As citizens in this country, we HAVE to pay attention to what our officials and leaders are doing, or we won't have a say of how our own lives are lived.
So, what can WE do? The simple, yet powerful answer is to vote. With voter turnout at less than three quarters of the voting population, millions of Americans are not showing up on election day to cast their ballots. Encourage civil discussions with your friends and family members about the importance of voting and especially the importance of knowing exactly who they are voting for. Furthermore, try to not fall into the trap of biased or incorrect media that distributes falsified information. This can be tricky, but you can make sure you're getting the most accurate information by reading articles from several different sources instead of one. Finally, don't fall into the political traps the candidates and parties are setting. Look at both of the candidate's past actions, listen to the promises they make, and then decide for yourself who is more trustworthy and who has your best interest in mind.
No matter the outcome of the 2020 election, millions of Americans and, quite frankly, citizens around the world are going to be upset. The most important thing for us to do is find common ground and give each other grace. With so many issues plaguing the world, division will only make us weaker and more susceptible to new threats that arise.
