For those of us who kept up with the live election results, it felt like the ballot-counting would never reach a conclusion. But after four days of anxious waiting, we now have a president and vice president-elect. With the current political climate of the country, I know there are some that are happy with the results of the election and others that aren’t. Nonetheless, a winner was declared, and I think there’s something important we should all avoid for future elections in this country.
Politicians should not be idolized.
Personally, I think a factor that has led to a lot of tension between the two parties is the idolization of their candidates, and both sides are guilty of this. Idolizing a politician refers to holding an individual on a metaphorical pedestal, often not recognizing some flaws they could have or mistakes they have made in the past. After this election, it’s clear to see that politicians are not 100% perfect. Then again, no one really is. We are all human, so we can never be truly free of faults. Of course, there are candidates that are better aligned with our own individual beliefs, but it’s important to remember that they are still flawed. They can do wrong, and they might make mistakes even after we elected them.
Many supporters of politicians tend to believe that whoever they support is the best, writing off any negative media remarks as false. However, for a democracy to succeed, it’s important to not just be a follower or supporter of your candidate, but also a critic of those who are elected to represent us. Don’t just buy into the positive media that is written about them, remember to take into considerations any faults they may have. Hold them accountable for actions that might be questionable or statements that are contrary to what they had stated before.
Supporters from either side of the political spectrum are guilty of idolizing politicians, or even entire political parties. But as individuals living in this democratic country, we need to be conscious of both the positives and negatives regarding our elected officials, if not just for your own personal interests, but the well-being of others.
Now that a new administration is set to go into the White House, we can’t just declare a victory. Every politician and administration can have faults, and while many of us are happy with the election results, we can’t let that cloud our judgement. Engage with the media about the political state of our country and always be sure to questions statements that sound inaccurate. Unfortunately, the media has its own political agenda that cannot always be trusted.
So, while many of us are hopeful and happy about the election results, it’s not time to celebrate quite yet. The fight for human rights is not over. I encourage everyone to pay attention to how the new administration will handle certain issues that are taking precedent at the moment. For the next four years and beyond, remember to hold the officials we elect into office accountable.