God Bless America.

Recently I wrote an article to express my thoughts and opinions after viewing the televised DNC and RNC.

The piece was not intended to be pro-Trump or pro-Biden, pro-Republican or pro-Democrat, pro-conservative or pro-liberal. It was crafted in the hopes of opening the minds of fellow Americans, encouraging them to think critically and educate themselves on their options. Some know where they stand, they’ve done their homework, but so many do not and I find they too often get caught up in the high school like rumor mill – bullying and jumping on band wagons just because everyone else is. There’s some good and some bad in all candidates, all parties – all human beings.

Many of Trump’s actions mirror those of other politicians as well as people from all walks of life – and I don’t condone any of it. But I don’t see the deception. What we see is what we get, like it or not, while some present one face to the world and another in private and that, for me, is the biggest deception of all – in pretending to be who one is not and cheating the public who seem to be so easily led and swayed.

Trump may have been born into money, but he chose to work hard when he probably could have lived off a trust fund. Others have been born into money then made poor choices and ended up with nothing. Given the alcoholic history of his family, he could have fallen prey to that but he chose a different path because he experienced firsthand the destruction of addiction – and made the wise decision to leave alcohol out of his life.

I admire the modest beginnings and the adversity Joe and Jill Biden had to overcome to grow their current net worth of more than $9 million (according to a Forbes estimate from July 2019). That required hard work, perseverance and toughness, all qualities that he credits his parents for instilling.

None of us really know what it’s like to walk in another’s shoes, even if we’ve had like experiences.

I respect those who are of the opinion that Trump loves the USA because he got a free ride – but what about the numerous speakers and guests who shared their stories during the RNC? The former US Marine, a female of color, who earned her degree in finance to get ahead then ended up homeless. She sought help when that happened, finding and taking advantage of the opportunities made available to us. The immigrants who legally entered our country, worked hard and succeeded in their endeavors.

And this is where my issue lies – people can hate, criticize and bash Trump, but many with assorted stories to share support his party. Stories filled with poverty, addiction, abuse, neglect and adversity which they overcame. Two children can be born into hell yet have very different life outcomes. One survives while the other thrives. Is it nature vs. nurture? Or is it an innate drive to rise above and seek opportunities to help them succeed? The question is too complex to answer and there are too many variables at play to truly know.

As an Independent, I was compelled to watch both conventions – much to the dismay of some – and I was left uninspired after the DNC. There was a lack of diversity, a lack of substance. More time was spent blaming Trump for America’s woes and it lacked a true feel that they were confident in who they are – or what they will fight for.

On the flip side, the RNC hosted guests of all colors, religions, nationalities, disabilities and genders. It was inclusive. The inspirational testimonies from those who struggled and overcame, reiterating that America afforded them support and opportunities – that was more impactful than any candidate speech. They were living testaments to what’s available to anyone in this land of the free, the home of the brave – for those who choose.

Character is where I believe our citizens should focus – and none of us are perfect. We’ve all done something wrong. People are quick to bash Trump, boast Biden or bash Biden, boast Trump – when both have been accused of hideous acts to include cheating, lying, fraud and sexual assault. The fact that Trump made fun of a disabled person is disgusting, inexcusable and ignorant – there is no penance for such callous hurtfulness or a lack of tact. And the fact that Biden told a construction worker with whom he disagreed that he was ‘full of shit’ and ‘I don’t work for you’ is blasphemous. As a politician, you do indeed work for us, the American people – even those you don’t agree with or may not like.

There is evil among us – liars, cheats, thieves, criminals, animal abusers, bad cops, bad priests, corrupt politicians, fraudulent business people, negligent doctors – and the list goes on. But they are the exception, not the norm. And it is my belief that because we subscribe to the media hype, the extremist propaganda and the repetitive promotion of publicizing these exceptions, we have lost sight of all the good that surrounds us. The majority of any group is good with only a small percentage that is not. We seem to have bought into an ‘us against them’ mentality vs. a let’s work together for the unity of our nation, our citizens, our future. It is the extremists that polarize our aim for equality, justice, unity and freedom.

Immigration is the foundation of this country and two words come into play here: legal vs. illegal. Many immigrants, who went through the legal process to enter our country, are angry and hurt by the illegals who seem to be taking advantage of the system. Believe me I would save everyone in the world if I could, but when illegals take a higher priority than our own citizens, that’s an issue. Some Americans are starving. Some Americans are afflicted with addiction, suffering because funds are not being allocated for proper treatment. And some of our US Veterans are homeless. When we take care of everyone else before taking care of our own, there may be nothing left of us and therefore, we will have nothing left to give. Charity begins at home.

It’s disconcerting to know how many people in leadership roles don’t deserve the honor. But it’s equally disconcerting to know how many people idolize and revere those in powerful positions, following so blindly with such willingness. A position of power is not equivalent to being superhuman or heroism. We still need to think for ourselves, lead by our own examples and be the best people we can be – no matter who is in charge.

I strongly believe in our country and our people. A reader commented that because President Trump doesn’t wear a mask, ‘it’s led to an entire culture refusing to do the same because their President doesn’t.’ But that’s not accurate because there are many who wear masks, so it is not the entirety. President Trump may not wear a mask, but I do and so should those who care about the health and well-being of their fellow man. If an entire culture is refusing to wear a mask because of his leadership – or lack thereof – then shame on them.

If we as a society are so easily manipulated by what we see and hear, then we need to rise up and support others in doing the same. Dealing with manipulation is all about reading between the lines and recognizing the lies for what they are. We cannot blindly follow and should develop a healthy skepticism to discern the messages delivered, in turn developing a strong sense of self and sound judgment. Life is full of fakes – trust is earned.

In a country with a population of 331,293,410 people (as of August 25, 2020), we have so few options from which to choose in the Presidential election. And we may not want any of them, but our civic duty calls and we must make the decision to elect a person that we hope – because we have no way of knowing, it’s a coin toss at the end of the day – support our own beliefs, values, morals and what we want to achieve for our country and its future.

I make every effort to stay out of political battles and propaganda promotions, but my passion on this one far outweighed my desire to appear neutral. I feared the reactions, the potential backlash from those who aren’t willing to openly discuss matters and the risk of being judged and criticized harshly. But my aim was not to boast one candidate, party or persuasion over the other – it was quite the opposite. It was written with the hope that those who take sides and unfairly jump to conclusions invest the time to do their research, learn the facts and make an educated decision when they cast their vote.

As you know, writing is a wonderful yet frightening endeavor because you never know how your thoughts will be interpreted or perceived. But that is also where the beauty of it begins – in giving us the opportunity to partake in a respectful exchange of diverse opinions while having the maturity to still like each other at the end of the debate.