It is only in my latest years that I have been paying more attention to the political happenings in our country. As a younger adult, I'm ashamed to say, I was not overly involved. I voted, but not with a full grasp of how it all worked or what might be at stake. As I became more firmly dedicated to my career (community mental health services) and aged up myself I also became more keenly aware of how the actions of our government have direct effect on our day to day lives. Sometimes, those actions can, and do, leave people feeling disenfranchised. Yet, I vote.
I remember being very upset and feeling that Al Gore had been shafted when he lost his bid for president leaving us with Mr. Bush at the helm once again. And I was overjoyed when Barack Obama won and had a renewed sense of hope for this nation. And now we are faced with the next big decision. Who will be our next president? I've been watching the debates - both republican and democratic - with interest and, to be honest, awe. The Republicans seem to have created a new way to slam their conservative views into the mainstream but not really saying what it is they would do if elected but, somehow, diverting the attention to a sideshow of incredible proportion. And this is where I want to speak to America...
Dear America,
This is a big, bright, beautiful land full of wonderful people of all shapes, sizes, ethnicities, religions, colors, beliefs, economic standards, education levels and races. For a long time, we have managed, albeit not without our struggles, to come together from time to time and make things work. We still have far to go. But I'm afraid.
I see the person some people are heralding as the one who "speaks their mind" and "tells it like it is" as the next great candidate for President of the United States of America. His platform is one of intolerance and hate and he's using all of you to make that happen. He's even called you all, his followers "uneducated" and prides himself on being able to lead you around. And you are being lead around. He has no sound plans to lead this country anywhere or do anything to, as he says, "Make America Great Again". It's all just words. So many words said through a smirk and shrug and the clink of a another million in his pocket. He thinks less of you all than he does the elevator operator at Trump tower. And yet you follow.
He tells you he can "shoot someone in the middle of 5th Avenue" and you follow.
He called someone "fat" and has them removed from his rally and you follow.
He degrades women by calling them names and you follow.
He says Mexico is sending rapists and mentally ill and you follow.
He blames Mexico and China for "taking" our jobs but has businesses that make clothing and jewelry in both countries and yet you follow.
He talks about companies hiring illegals but only just settled part of a law suit where he hired illegal workers and was sued for not even paying them minimum wage and yet you follow.
He's bankrupted his own companies when they were losing money several times and yet you follow even though he cannot show how he can balance or repair a budget.
But most of all, he has said repeatedly he would seek to send away thousands of immigrants already here and find a way to "identify" Muslims while they were here in order to "fight terrorism". That, my friends, is very much what Hitler said, and did, at the very beginning of the Third Reich. And yet, even with people showing up at his rallies in full KKK regalia and carrying Confederate flags, YOU FOLLOW.
Why? Because he is the candidate the media has created. He is the sound byte they gave you. He is the political version of a reality TV show - just entertaining enough to keep the water cooler conversation lively. Nobody wants to hear someone talk about real issues when they can watch a car wreck. But the horrible truth is, America is just dumbed down enough to take that car wreck seriously.
Wake up, America! WAKE UP! If you have to vote Republican, please, for the love of all that's holy, do not vote for Donald Trump! He is the scariest thing to happen to American politics in a long, long time.
Sincerely,
Me
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