Politics

I can't wait for November 17th! Ok, maybe some of the days before that will be nice too, but on that day we won't have to hear who is ahead in this poll or that poll - who is more "electable" - or who is better qualified for the job. Now for anyone that may think I am uninformed, or just don't care about my country, that is just not the case. I am far more informed and aware this election year than I ever have been...but I am also far more tired of hearing all of it.

Let's be honest, both sides are vying for the flag of "change" to fly high over their respective campaigns, but if we are honest enough to take a step back, both sides are twisting words, and attacking the other side with half truths and out-of-context quotes that really are used to deceive the American people not engaged enough to research it more (which is probably a lot of us).  Yes, I will end up voting in November. Yes, this is a historic election with a lot of implications for our future as a country. But I am still tired of the constant analysis, counter-analysis, and over-analysis of every move that the politicians take and every breath they breath. Is it really necessary to have an expert on facial expressions analyze the nonverbal signals on Bill Clinton's face during his wife's speech? This and other absurd topics are being discussed as if they might just determine the quality of leadership that ends up in the White House.

I just wish I could hear more about what the candidates want to do for their country and less about what the other guy is doing wrong. Since when did pointing out someone else's flaws make you a better leader? I apologize for venting about this, but it just frustrates me. Too many of us drink in all this media coverage and political speculation like it is the very marrow of life sometimes, but at the end of the day (or the end of the election), we will still have a flawed, human, fallible, and imperfect leader leading our country. We will have plenty of time to be critics after the election. I just wish we could spend more time focusing on the good that they hope to accomplish before the election rather than pointing out how the "other guy" (or girl) is going to singlehandedly drive our nation into oblivion. 

And maybe that is just it. We want someone to save us from the mess we are in. We have lots of messes in fact. But no one person can save us from these messes and turn it all around. At least not a political leader. Many of us have high hopes and high expectations for this upcoming election. But no matter who ends up in the oval office, change will not effectively happen from the top down. You can legislate many things to modify and try to guide people's behavior, but you cannot legislate a change in their hearts. A government can try to guide it's citizens as wisely as is possible, but it will not be able to change people's perspectives, their hearts, and the way they interact with others. For me, I think I am just realizing more an more that I have responsibility as well. It is not leaders who will change things in this country, it is people who care and who love others around them. It is not supreme court justices, presidents, or senators who will cause meaningful change in our country, it is us. Sure it may help to have a leader who can give us an example of that and who can inspire us to action, but that does not negate our own responsibility.

There is a lot more I could vent about, but the point is that I am frustrated with politics right now. the world goes on one day at a time and few have the luxury of waiting until November to see if things will change. Few have the years to wait for legislation to be passed so that this "change" each candidate promises can affect their lives. I talk with single mothers who are in hiding because their abusive ex-boyfriends are trying to find them, but they don't have the resources to get away. I work with students who are struggling to learn English, yet in their former countries they were respected lawyers, fashion designers, and businessmen. These people cannot wait for several years to see if the right laws will be passed and they might finally receive some much needed help. They need it now. You can't legislate love. And yes, while it may sound cliche', we need to start truly loving those around us.  I hope that we don't get so focused on the "big picture" of our nation that we forget to "be the change that we want to see in the world" (Gandhi). I will finish with a quote from Mother Teresa:

"If I look at the mass, I will never act. If I look at the one, I will."  

In all our arguments and analyses of this election, may we not overlook those in need around us and may we truly be the "change" that so many of us hope for.