If you have a friend on Facebook that frequently declares, “why can’t we all just get along?” or “I’m staying out of politics,” their privilege is showing.
Maybe, just maybe, this person truly does not care who runs our country and how they do it. Or, perhaps, they don’t HAVE to care about politics. At which point, their privilege is showing.
During this particular election, not caring about politics is as privileged as having white skin, being straight, being in a certain tax bracket, living in a certain community, and so much more.
Right now, saying “I want to stay out of politics” is like saying “I want to stay in my comfortable, privileged bubble, please.” It goes even beyond that, you should care about politics all the time, not just during election years.
The formal definition of privilege is, “a special right, advantage, or immunity granted or available only to a particular person or group.”
When a political decision is the difference between you getting to remain here on a visa, getting to marry who you love, or having access to healthcare, it becomes an unavoidable topic. This goes back to my idea of community care. Everyone should have some empathy and take a stand on political issues that affect others in their community, even those issues not directly happening in their community.
If you think none of this applies to you, I must ask: Do you know a woman? A black person? Someone in the LGBTQ+ community? Other ethnic minorities? Anyone in this country on a visa? If you care about them, you need to care about politics. Even the issue of schools, if you don’t have kids, you should still want good schools in your community and your country. One day, you may need a doctor, a lawyer, a therapist, and you want them to be well educated.
Take a stance on women’s rights so that you or your friend can have access to birth control and other health care needs. Form an opinion on gun control to help keep guns out of schools. Have feelings on drug price regulations, you never know when a family member may need care. Learn about immigration detainment and have feelings on children dying in cages.
Take a step in the right direction. Form opinions on political issues. Get upset when a law oppresses a minority, or when unidentified militants with shields beat people up and throw them into unmarked vehicles. And especially get upset when they do it to women and mothers. Get upset, even if it doesn’t affect you. By not doing so, you are simply a bystander.
This may sound dramatic, but this is the reality for so many Americans today.
You should care about American politics because you live here. It is your duty to be an informed citizen of the country you live in.
Learn about more than just the presidential candidates. Pay attention to local politics too. Don’t just go and check all the democratic or republican boxes.
Did you know that I appear on Newsmax’s National Report every Tuesday morning at 10:15am est.? I talk about all kinds of political issues; racism, immigration, public education, covid-19, voting, the 2020 election and Presidential race.
It’s a blast. It’s me, on a conservative news network, sitting in my home studio, green screen behind me, defending against the positions and policies of the right. You can catch the clips on my website under ‘Media.’
But seriously, please take time before heading to the polls to really see who these people are and what they stand for. Even just reading up on the issues for 10 minutes a day can help you become better informed.
In the 2016 election, there was a 61.4% voter turnout. In the 2018 mid-term election, there was a 53.4% voter turnout. This shows that many more people care about politics in a presidential election year. So, get registered and get into action. Check out vote.org.
Take Action:
Protect the 2020 Election from Covid-19 by signing the Brennan Center’s petition today to send a message to Congress. Americans deserve free, fair, and safe elections – and the time to start preparing is now. Congress must approve at least $4 billion in funding for the 2020 election before it’s too late.
Take Care:
5 Self-care methods people are practicing in the election year.
