The thing we “should never talk about“

… but must.

The shooting of 12-year-old Tamir hit me pretty hard… I know he had what looked like a dangerous weapon (which turned out to be a toy gun)… but is it reasonable for the boy to have been shot within two seconds of the officer coming out of his car? The officer testified in saying “show me your hands” three times before shooting, but could two seconds be enough time to say those words, and for Tamir to react? Perhaps there are things that the surveillance camera don’t show, but nevertheless, in the end, a young boy was left dead, and it makes me wonder why he couldn’t have been disarmed without this end result.

Heart troubled, I called up one of my friends from Chicago, now nicknamed Chiraq, because of all the gun violence that has been talking… I called her to listen to her perspective as an African American female in what felt like an injustice-ridden place. Just to listen. She talked about the corruption in Chicago, and how it seemed like the same type of people protecting the same type of elitist interests were in power. She talked about how nothing seemed to change, and everything seemed hopeless. In Chicago’s last election in 2015, among the registered voters, 41% of them showed up to vote. What would it look like if all the registered voters voted, and unregistered ones did as well? They, and we could really change things, but the moment we collectively lose hope, is the moment we lose the battles altogether; so we sit, looking to the sky aimlessly, wondering if change will ever come.

I admit I haven’t always been the most politically active. I’m just now learning the importance of it.

Federal budget. Social security. Education. Foreign Policy. National Security. Gun Control. Minimum wage/jobs. Health reform. So many things to consider. So many it makes my head hurt. We all have our views on these things, often polar opposites opinions, but how can we work together to create a better society, a better us?

Something I really appreciated was seeing Democrat Sanders speak to a crowd known for its conservative values. As someone who is still struggling in figuring where I fit on the political spectrum, when I agree with points on both sides, I needed this.

“It is easy to talk to people who agree with you…it is harder, but not less important for us to communicate with those who do not agree with us on every issue. And it is important to see where, if possible… we can find common ground.”

I’ve realized that there will never be a candidate who votes exactly how I wish he/she would vote, so I must find one who possesses the heart and attitude of someone who mostly would. It’s hard. You have to balance the interests of so many different people. What issues are important? Are certain issues more important than others? How can we American move to a place of mutual love and respect, fighting for the common injustices that hit us at the core?

With all this said, I won’t tell you who to vote for, but I do challenge you to ask yourself:

Which of these candidates is one who facilitates compromise and discussion, bringing people of contrasting perspectives together to find common ground?

Which of these candidates exhibits the qualities we hold on so dearly to: humility, compassion, mercy, truth, and justice?

Which of these candidates will listen diligently, fighting for the interests of people?

We HAVE to stand up for these things. Because the government serves the people. And WE are the people. As a wise somebody said:

“All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent.”

I’m still not 100% sure who I’m voting for, but I refuse to remain silent. Will you?

LEARN:

What knowledge and experience do these candidates have to rule our country anyway? What issues have they fought long and hard for?

Who speaks carefully, with truth? See PolitiFact for more specifics.

(Just a starting point. The world’s knowledge is at your fingertips via your BFF Google!)

REGISTER:

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