As someone who has understood frustration, anger, and
marginalization as a member of both sides of the isle, I have to say that the
fundamental misunderstanding of what “freedom” really means in this country is
the most disturbing thing about this entire election cycle. Anytime you find
yourself thinking “that shouldn’t be allowed” consider that your values are a
product of your environment and we as a heterogeneous
society only thrive based on these distinctions.
People will always have differing political ideologies based
largely on their circumstances and instilled values, but a hallmark of American
“freedom” is the ability to express those views without fear of governmental
retribution. This, of course, does not mean that your opinion cannot be
challenged by antithetically minded peers, and some would argue that this
debate is the foundation of what makes the US a great bastion of freedom. Freedom
is rarely comfortable, clean, or complacent and the expression of is bound by
its very nature to cause distress in some. It is important to remember that
uncomfortable, unpopular, and even offensive speech is protected, but that does
not mean it should not be challenged.
With all that said, as a progressive I am frightened by the
conservative social agenda of the next four years. You cannot preach unity
through marginalization. Doing so makes nothing great again, it simply shifts
the focus to a different subset of people. As a humanist, I am saddened by the potential
backslide on matters of conclusively proven scientific merit in favor of the
aging theocratic ideals of a rapidly declining majority. As a Buddhist, I am
distressed by the vitriol with which both side conduct themselves. There can be
no constructive dialogue until put aside the ego driven pursuit of “rightness”
and focus on the uniting thread of Americanism that connects all of us: Freedom.
