This Election: The Downfall of The United States
- The Political Pandaa
- Nov 7, 2016
- 3 min read
Let me preface by stating that I do not openly endorse either of the major candidates.
It makes me sad that we've been reduced to voting options heavily influenced by social media scandal.
I know avid Hilary supporters, Trump supporters, and reluctant supporters who are voting for whomever they consider the lesser of two evils.
I have witnessed people starting Facebook wars over silly memes meant to poke fun at the "precious candidates" as well as people defriending each other left and right, both on Facebook and in real life, based on political beliefs.
I cannot believe it has escalated to literally attacking people on the street for supporting a supposedly monstrous human beings and whichever is considered the obviously wrong candidate.
Somewhere in the mass media whirlwind we all forgot the definition of the word OPINION.
Here's a little Merriam-Webster reminder:
opinion
noun opin·ion \ə-ˈpin-yən\
Simple Definition of Opinion
: a belief, judgment, or way of thinking about something : what someone thinks about a particular thing
: advice from someone with special knowledge : advice from an expert
: a formal statement by a judge, court, etc., explaining the reasons a decision was made according to laws or rules
Source: Merriam-Webster's Learner's Dictionary
Okay, so now that we understand what an opinion is, let's take a moment to describe the main difference between opinion and fact. Fact is something that is proven to exist, it's something that is true and has an actual existence. Facts require evidence to back them up. Opinions are equated as beliefs, which can vary from person to person.
One of the things that makes the United States amazing is that we are allowed to openly express our opinions without fear of government suppression.
China, for example, can slap a "subversion of state power" charge against someone and detain them for months without access to legal aide. There were recently stories in the news of human right's lawyers being charged with subversion of state power for simply defending clients.
**Subversion of state power: "Anyone who uses rumor, slander or other means to encourage subversion of the political power of the State or to overthrow the socialist system, shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not more than five years. However, the ringleaders and anyone whose crime is monstrous shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not less than five years"
I got this definition from The World Library.org, however multiple sources concur with this statement
REALLY think about what that means. Any rumor, slander, or anything encouraging the overthrow of the socialist system or the government can easily end in a lengthy prison sentence.
YOUR POLITICAL BELIEFS ARE OPINION-BASED AND NOT FACT.
How dare any one person harass people at their job, or any part of their life and be narcissistic enough to believe I, or anyone, must conform with their opinion.
Just because you believe it, you must be right? I have to believe it too or I'm a terrible person?
The downfall caused by this election has already happened. The most disgusting part, is that American people have done it to ourselves. We are the ones attacking, bullying, and forcing our opinions on other people. We have become the suppressors, or idly sat and watched the people around us be suppressed
Isn't that one of the main reasons The United States was created?
To prevent government injustice, give people a voice, and allow for freedom.
GUESS WHAT- This time it's not the government's not to blame. It's the people themselves who are culpable.
If you support a candidate, you should be able to do so openly. If you don't, you should also be able to do so openly without fear. People should be able to debate back and forth about politics.
Anyone, and I mean ANYONE who is shaming another person based on their voting preference or political beliefs is the most repugnant part of this election. You are acting against the founding beliefs of America. You are the problem, and are just a huge problem with the society in the United States.
--Which is by the way, my opinion. Not an indisputable fact.
Comments