If you haven’t yet picked up my patterns on my political articles or this is your first read, I tend to end my messages with something about both sides coming together to make some sort of change. For the first time, I am openly speaking in favor of a particular party because in a time where so much division is occurring in our nation that is known for bringing people together, there is one party that is focusing on unity, and I think you know which one I’m talking about.
The last two weeks, I watched both the Republican National Convention and the Democratic National Convention, taking in both sides as I try so often to do, and these are the pictures I saw. On the Republican side, I saw a nation captured by fear, people searching for America “to be great again” which I still don’t understand, with a nominee who spent no moment of his speech defining his plans for the future. Ted Cruz, one of the more influential members of the party told the crowd to “vote their conscience,” choosing not to endorse his party’s nominee. There were praises of how great the Trump family looked, and how Melania’s speech was fabulous (until they fact checked it against Michelle’s speech in 2008), but I felt no ounce of hope.
When it came time for the Democratic National Convention, I was a little nervous. I will admit as an idealistic college student; I was a Bernie voter. I wasn’t sure if I fully trusted Hillary Clinton, and I had a very grim view of society for people like me and my friends, who see the future filled with debt from college tuition and a system rigged against people who don’t look the same as the majority of congress. After watching this week’s group of speeches, from Michelle Obama’s powerful speech of how everything she and President Obama has done is for the future of their daughters, to a Gold Star Muslim father who felt he had to prove to America that he and his son who died in combat, were just as American as everyone else. There were moments where I couldn’t hold back my tears because I was reminded of how great our country is even though there is work that still needs to be done.
There were common conservative messages, a Ronald Reagan quote from President Obama, and the common theme that we are the U.S. and we will always be bigger and stronger than our enemies. This doesn’t mean there weren’t problems during the convention; Bernie Sanders supporters initially found themselves angry and frustrated with the previous week’s leaked emails and the outcome of the roll call votes.
What truly sold me during the Democratic National Convention was the idea of compromise, and rising together to make change. As evident by my previous writings, that’s always been my motto. I don’t want a President who believes that he or she alone can fix the problems facing our nation. I want a President who is willing to look at both sides of the aisles and find ways to make America stronger and give us a society that puts everyone on an equal level.
Since as long as I can remember, we were preached the idea of the “American Dream” and that our country was founded on the idea that “all men are created equal” (though I really wish they included women). Yet, what America really is and what makes it so great is exactly how I was reminded of the musical" Hamilton," when Hillary started off her nomination speech Thursday night. The ability of a group of people with different opinions with the same goal in mind to make a country where everyone feels welcome and where democracy means freedom to the people. So next time someone ask who I’m with this November, I’m With Her.
As a political science major, I don’t want to ever discourage people from voting for who they believe in, but if you feel so strongly about this election or about a particular candidate, “Don’t boo, vote” (Barack Obama).
