The U.S. Election

Today is the Presidential election between Republican President Donald Trump and Democratic Presidential nominee Joe Biden. Whether you live in the States or not, you can’t help but be impacted by the goings on of this country. Or, if not impacted, then definitely intrigued.

I may live in Canada, but I have been tuning in every morning to the myriad articles describing the tumultuous presidency and the reaction of the American people. I have my own opinion of Donald Trump, which I have tried to stay clear from this site. All I will say is this: if anyone thinks the media is distorting the happenings, or the character of Donald Trump, then set aside all the media is saying. Take the man by what comes out of his own mouth. No media outlet needs to distort that. Donald Trump is his own worst enemy.

Having said that, I don’t envy the American people today. If you are against Trump, you get heckled and harassed by Trump supporters. If you are for Trump, the reaction is very much as strong. What I have seen is certain groups of people REACTING as opposed to DECIDING. I read of the incident where Trump supporters surrounded a Biden-Harris campaign bus, seemingly trying to run it off the road. And what does Trump do? Nothing but encourage behaviour like that. Trump called these people “patriots”. I’m all for letting your voice be heard, but not when it might endanger other people’s lives. And that brings me to the reason for this article.

Trump is very good at stirring up controversy – whether you’re for him or against him. Today is a very important day in the States. Probably more than anyone can really realize. Tensions have been high for weeks, and just increased the closer Election Day came. Well, it’s here now. Just because I’m Canadian doesn’t mean that I don’t care what is happening to our neighbours to the south. I can’t imagine, though, being intimidated and harassed just because you want your voice to be heard. Or running up against “voter intimidation”, like Trump has been inciting. People should be able to exercise their God-given right of freely choosing their elected officials without being watched over or harassed.

I’ve also read where businesses are boarding up their windows in case of reactionary fall-out; from Washington, D.C. to New York. If businesses are THAT worried, how much more so the average person? The States has already suffered through racially motivated protests, and the fall-out of that. For the most part, these were peaceful people, protesting racial injustice that is just wrong, plain and simple. But now there is the threat of protests during this most basic democratic process. Despite Trump’s encouragement of reacting against anything and everything not “Trump”, I have to believe that the human spirit – and humanity – can overcome the “reactionary gene” and behave in a well, “human” manner, taking care of those around us. Some might say that’s naive of me. Maybe so. But what happens when we stop believing this? You start down a dark road of confusion and fear. We are living in the “free world” and not in a “dictatorship”. People should not be afraid of opinions that don’t mirror their own. That’s what makes us human – a differing of ideas and opinions coming together in a reasonable manner. The key phrase being “reasonable manner”.

What am I trying to say in all this? I’m trying to let people know that they don’t have to react negatively to something or someone that differs from you. In the midst of these very strange and troubling times, you can still focus on your inner “human”. Opinions can differ without violence. Instead of intimidating, why not encourage. Instead of harassing, why not help. We are all members of the human race and even this shall pass, regardless of the results. Believe it or not, people are better than what Donald Trump is encouraging. Don’t just watch out for yourself, watch out for your neighbour; for the person next to you in line; for the people manning the polls; for the person walking toward you. Find your inner “human”. Show the next person a calm and peaceful demeanour. You might be surprised at how infectious and contagious such a quiet demeanour will be. And above all, BE SAFE! Take care of yourself, America, and take care of the next fellow, too. Good luck.

Until next time,

Inge