Last updated on August 19, 2020
Remember, let’s be polite; let’s be respectful, but most of all, let’s be outspoken.
With a month into quarantine, the nation grows wearier. There are many factors to consider, but the biggest concern is the debacle in Washington. While I will eventually focus on the economic ramifications of forcing small businesses to close and millions filing for unemployment, I want to talk about the political aspect of this crisis.
We look up to the leaders we elect. While there has been a stigma towards politicians for lying and corruption, the American people are forced to rely on them to fix their problems. In normal times, we debate public policy, push political agendas, act on party lines, and antagonize the opposition. However, we are far from normal times. Thousands of people are being killed by COVID-19. Unemployment rates are skyrocketing, hospitals are overcrowding, and infrastructures are collapsing. Our lives will dramatically shift in the aftermath of this crisis. Given this travesty, it pains me to see politicians bickering in a time that necessitates unification.
We have political agendas for a reason. Republicans wish to pass stronger regulations on the abortion industry because they believe abortion is murder while Democrats want to pass stronger regulations on the death penalty because of wrongful executions. Pushing and believing in policies that reflect a party’s interest is understandable because they are standing up for their beliefs.
What is not commendable is the execution of it. I have strongly criticized political agendas because they lead to counter-productivity. Personal jabs, name-calling, irrelevant cases, passive aggression, and angry yelling on the Senate floor is common when discussing policies. However, we are in a crisis. Every second delayed damage our efforts to respond properly to this virus. We cannot and should not act as if we are pushing another policy.
Throughout Trump’s presidency, there has been a war between the members of the press and the White House. I wish I could say one side is at fault, but both are lighting the flames of useless dialogue. Amid the global pandemic, the flames are burning brighter than ever. In the beginning, the press attacked the President for his description of the virus and Trump responded by calling reporters names. Later, the press tried to alienate Dr. Fauci from Trump. The back and forth arguments about the term “Chinese Virus” brought up important issues like racial stereotypes, classification, and slander. However, the feud on the topic was drastically petty and nonsensical.
On social media, the President used his Instagram account to spread information on what every household should do to flatten the curve. This use of social media is commendable because it informs how every single person can contribute to the fight. Later, President Trump posted various pictures of a timeline contrasting what the Democrats and Trump did on a specific date. The intention was to enforce a narrative that the Democrats have downplayed the threat of the virus while Trump addressed it. Honestly, this is not helpful at all. Levying attacks on the opposition amid a crisis to gain an upper hand only causes more disarray and separation. Again, this is not solely Trump’s doing. The media’s attempt to separate Trump from Fauci is a waste of time and does not inform the public on anything.
In his Oval Office address, President Trump stated, “We are all in this together. We must put politics aside, stop the partisanship and unify together as one nation and one family.” While I agree with every word, I fear Trump does not. He is the President during the single most defining moment of our century which means he has one of the greatest responsibilities a president has ever had. As such, he must stop the current dialogue with the press and pay attention to what is to come in the future. The same must go for people who wish to inform and not slander.
Remember, let’s be polite; let’s be respectful, but most of all, let’s be outspoken.
Amen!