Why I vote...

Election Day pins

(Written November 3rd, 2020)

I voted because I believe that every person has the fundamental right to live without fear because of the color of their skin, to work for a living wage, to have access to adequate health care, to love who they will, to be themselves in all of their gender conforming or non-conforming glory, and the right to decide whether or not they will carry a child to term. I believe that it is our responsibility, as citizens and decent human beings, to vote for the good of our fellows and our planet. I believe that when we see wrong in the world, we must point it out and lobby for change. I believe that to do otherwise tarnishes our souls and whatever good we might do elsewhere.

None of this makes me a radical, or a socialist. It makes me a humanist. Right now, I am an angry humanist, but that’s not radical either.

I’m angry because I see a man in power who embodies none of the values or morals with which I was raised. There is nothing in him of the Christian spirit. No compassion for his fellow humans, no desire to create a better world for the citizens in his care. No interest in public service, or even any evidence that he comprehends the concept. He doesn’t even have the warmth of a father for his children.

Instead, his actions have caused irreparable harm to hundreds of thousands of families. Not just from COVID, but by separating children from their parents at the border, inciting and glorifying violence, fanning the flames of racism, and disrespecting every ideal our nation stands for.

Even if he could fix the economy. Even if he could create more jobs than any other President before him. Even if he could fix our standing with the rest of the first world. NONE OF THAT would be worth the cost in human life that our nation has paid, just having him in office.