You've even gone a bit too far to get your message home.
Before it gets too frightening, we ought to call a halt.
So could we start again please?"
~ Andrew Lloyd Webber, Jesus Christ, Superstar
It was ugly. It was nasty. It was cruel. It was divisive. It was negative, with very few exceptions. And not matter what, half the country was going to be upset, disappointed and angry. No matter what, half the country was going to "lose".
Some of us were going to feel that way regardless of which candidate won. Some of us, who could not stomach a vote for either major party candidate, no matter how "important" this election was. Some of us, who knew that their candidate was a long shot, but it was the only choice we could live with. Some of us, who are now being blamed for the outcome because their candidate didn't win. That is the only thing about this election with which I'm going to take issue.
My choice to vote third party was not a protest vote. My choice to vote third party had nothing to do with thumbing my nose at the system, or attempting to break up the two party duopoly. My choice to vote third party was not what cost Hillary Clinton the White House. My choice was the result of years of looking outside the mainstream media for unbiased sources of information on every candidate. It was the result of feeling that neither major party platform adequately represented my views. It was the result of actively seeking out a party and a person that I could agree with enough to support.
I've been called foolish. I've been called stupid. I've been called naive, even dangerous. I've been told I don't matter. That I don't care. Nothing could be further from the truth. And if you're sitting there thinking to yourself that you've never thought those things about me, consider what you've posted on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or even said in conversation about third party voters. I am a third party voter, and I stand by my choice. I saw so many people complain about their choices, then refuse to acknowledge there were more than just two. I saw so many people say they were voting for A to stop B, or vice versa, and refuse to even look at C or D. But never once did I say that any of you were foolish or stupid or dangerous for not looking beyond the two parties.
I've seen friends on both sides calling the other side nasty names, questioning their intelligence, morals and integrity because of who they supported in this election. They may not have called anyone out by name, but by simply posting an article or meme lumping all Clinton supporters, all Trump supporters or all third party supporters into one basket and painting them with a broad brush, you don't have to name names.
I'm not foolish or stupid, naive or dangerous. I do matter and I do care. I care enough to do my research and draw my own conclusions. To think for myself. To listen with an open mind to criticism as well as praise. To acknowledge other points of view and agree to disagree when necessary. I'm looking for people who are going to protect your right to say whatever you want, even when I disagree. I'm looking for people who are willing to admit when they are wrong, own it and make changes. I'm looking for people who are in it for the good of every citizen, regardless of their personal beliefs. I'm looking for idealism, courage and strength.
If you need a group to blame, look to the 46.6% of eligible voters who didn't turn out. The ones who didn't take the time to educate themselves on their choices and make their voices heard. Don't get me wrong, if you don't educate yourself, I don't want you voting. But the fact that nearly half the country didn't bother to even try? That's where the anger should lie. That's where we need to start seeing real change. Instead of asking people who they voted for, ask them if they voted at all. If not, why not? But don't blame me for doing my research, and voting my conscience.
There are more than two sides to every story... there is a middle ground where we must come together. Hate, anger and pointing fingers will not change anything. Now is the time to move forward and look for avenues of change. But don't just look for change for the sake of change... that's how we wound up here! Stop looking to politicians and government to make things better. I think if this election proves anything, it's that Americans are fed up with government the way it is. Government is not the answer to our problems, we are. WE are the change. WE elected these people; they work for US. Don't just get angry and involved every four years when it's time to elect another president. Stay involved now, and demand that our elected officials (whether you voted for them or not) do their job, as outlined in the Constitution.
I am not naive, but I am idealistic. I'm also a pragmatist and a realist. I know that not everyone is going to agree with my point of view. That's okay. We don't have to agree to get along. But we do have to have respect for one another. We do have to have patience with one another. And we do have to open our minds and our hearts to each other, listen without judgement, and work together to make our country sane again. I hope you will join me.
It was ugly. It was nasty. It was cruel. It was divisive. It was negative, with very few exceptions. And not matter what, half the country was going to be upset, disappointed and angry. No matter what, half the country was going to "lose".
Some of us were going to feel that way regardless of which candidate won. Some of us, who could not stomach a vote for either major party candidate, no matter how "important" this election was. Some of us, who knew that their candidate was a long shot, but it was the only choice we could live with. Some of us, who are now being blamed for the outcome because their candidate didn't win. That is the only thing about this election with which I'm going to take issue.
My choice to vote third party was not a protest vote. My choice to vote third party had nothing to do with thumbing my nose at the system, or attempting to break up the two party duopoly. My choice to vote third party was not what cost Hillary Clinton the White House. My choice was the result of years of looking outside the mainstream media for unbiased sources of information on every candidate. It was the result of feeling that neither major party platform adequately represented my views. It was the result of actively seeking out a party and a person that I could agree with enough to support.
I've been called foolish. I've been called stupid. I've been called naive, even dangerous. I've been told I don't matter. That I don't care. Nothing could be further from the truth. And if you're sitting there thinking to yourself that you've never thought those things about me, consider what you've posted on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or even said in conversation about third party voters. I am a third party voter, and I stand by my choice. I saw so many people complain about their choices, then refuse to acknowledge there were more than just two. I saw so many people say they were voting for A to stop B, or vice versa, and refuse to even look at C or D. But never once did I say that any of you were foolish or stupid or dangerous for not looking beyond the two parties.
I've seen friends on both sides calling the other side nasty names, questioning their intelligence, morals and integrity because of who they supported in this election. They may not have called anyone out by name, but by simply posting an article or meme lumping all Clinton supporters, all Trump supporters or all third party supporters into one basket and painting them with a broad brush, you don't have to name names.
I'm not foolish or stupid, naive or dangerous. I do matter and I do care. I care enough to do my research and draw my own conclusions. To think for myself. To listen with an open mind to criticism as well as praise. To acknowledge other points of view and agree to disagree when necessary. I'm looking for people who are going to protect your right to say whatever you want, even when I disagree. I'm looking for people who are willing to admit when they are wrong, own it and make changes. I'm looking for people who are in it for the good of every citizen, regardless of their personal beliefs. I'm looking for idealism, courage and strength.
If you need a group to blame, look to the 46.6% of eligible voters who didn't turn out. The ones who didn't take the time to educate themselves on their choices and make their voices heard. Don't get me wrong, if you don't educate yourself, I don't want you voting. But the fact that nearly half the country didn't bother to even try? That's where the anger should lie. That's where we need to start seeing real change. Instead of asking people who they voted for, ask them if they voted at all. If not, why not? But don't blame me for doing my research, and voting my conscience.
There are more than two sides to every story... there is a middle ground where we must come together. Hate, anger and pointing fingers will not change anything. Now is the time to move forward and look for avenues of change. But don't just look for change for the sake of change... that's how we wound up here! Stop looking to politicians and government to make things better. I think if this election proves anything, it's that Americans are fed up with government the way it is. Government is not the answer to our problems, we are. WE are the change. WE elected these people; they work for US. Don't just get angry and involved every four years when it's time to elect another president. Stay involved now, and demand that our elected officials (whether you voted for them or not) do their job, as outlined in the Constitution.
I am not naive, but I am idealistic. I'm also a pragmatist and a realist. I know that not everyone is going to agree with my point of view. That's okay. We don't have to agree to get along. But we do have to have respect for one another. We do have to have patience with one another. And we do have to open our minds and our hearts to each other, listen without judgement, and work together to make our country sane again. I hope you will join me.
