July is over, which means 2016 is already more than halfway done. I am not the type to usually be pessimistic, yet I am also not the one to make New Year's resolutions. However, in light of recent events, I think now is a perfect time to look back on what has happened thus far this year.
The Presidential Candidates are no longer racing within their parties; instead the parties are racing against one another. Maybe it is because I was previously ignorant to the political atmosphere (due to my inability to vote in past elections) but it seems like this election is the more polarizing and broadcasted than other years. We are no longer voting for a person or political party, we are voting for a lifestyle. Will our future consist of a lifestyle of strength or stupidity? Either way, there is bound to be gridlock in Congress over whichever candidate is chosen.
Besides the Presidential Candidates, several other groups have been subjected to brutality over the past several months. The Orlando LGBTQ+ community, police officers, and anti-police activities have all been shot and many have died from violent public attacks. Civilians have been left questioning the legal system wondering who we should be protecting and who is doing the protecting. Outside the United States, Europe has faced numerous terrorist attacks from extremist group ISIS. The world has begun to take cover and take ISIS more seriously.
Meanwhile in Rio, athletes are preparing for the 2016 Summer Olympics. However, there have been many boycotts of the upcoming games due to the Zika virus, as well as political and social instability in Rio. Some reports have also questioned whether or not Rio has the infrastructure to support the Olympic Games. An event that should unite the world under one roof has turned many countries against one another. Several athletes have already been disqualified due to doping (or illegally using drugs to boost their performance).
Our Facebook feeds have never been more polluted with views and opinions we think are worth saying. We are spitting. . . I mean sharing articles and posts that have less to do with what we believe and more to do with what others believe. Instead of having difficult conversations face to face we are scrolling through our feed in a search for answers.
At the end of 2016, we will either have the first woman president or a president who built his campaign on the benign fear of Americans. We will be faced with many choices- who to vote for or what team to root for in the Olympics. But we have one more choice to make, and that choice is to ask ourselves "What will we remember about 2016?" If our answer is completely negative, perhaps we should ask ourselves, "How can we adjust our perspective of 2016 and make it one we want to remember?"
