Americans are divided right now. They’re divided in terms of race. They’re divided on opinions.
Most importantly, they’re divided on their next pick for president. On Tuesday, November 8, 2016,
the American people will choose a leader after the most bizarre election with the most hated
candidates in almost two decades. This election has not only enraged many adult voters, but also
enabled the youth community to be much more active. If elected, businessman Donald Trump
would become the oldest president to be chosen for office. However, if the Democratic former
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is elected, she would be the first female president of the United
States.
I could go on and on about the candidates and their policies, but honestly I, like many teenagers,
feel intense apathy toward this election. The cycle of one-candidate-exposed-for-a-scandal-and-the-other-juicing-it-for-all-it’s-worth is very tiring and just plain sad to watch. Even though the amount of dirt these two candidates both have make them very unappetising to vote for, Donald Trump is blatantly going to be a worse president than Hillary Clinton.
Most teenagers I know showed strong support for Bernie Sanders and reluctantly gave Hillary
Clinton a nod, because the alternative choice is just unbearable. For example, my friend
Joceline Shen feels that this whole election is a fight between “liberals who actually care about
making the country great and people who blame their failures on others.” Although a lot of
teenagers support more liberal policies over Trump’s conservative ones, there are still some
teenagers that do advocate for Trump. Donald Trump is highly entertaining, but that’s all he is. He’s
a performer. He lives for publicity and disregards any sort of decorum, which may contribute to
why so many teenagers still vote for him. He’s all flash and no substance. In fact, when I asked some
SAS students why they supported Trump, I received answers like “I don't know why, I just do.”
Despite this, his rise to power is a scary yet somewhat logical story. With ISIS marking their
footprints all over the world, deteriorating foreign relations, and increasing racial tension, of course
the American people crave someone to tell them, “I got this. Don’t worry.” When our peers see
Donald Trump, they see a charismatic, candid outsider that is the fresh air Washington needs.
However, what they choose to ignore are his many flaws that make him completely unsuitable for
president. He is easy to manipulate, way too susceptible to conspiracy, unpredictable and most
importantly, he has a bizarre approach to policies.
Of course I’m not saying Hillary Clinton is the perfect candidate. She’s had her fair share of
disheartening moments. From her email scandals to Benghazi to her many exposed lies, she is not
exactly what I would want to see in the first female president of America and as a role model for
girls all around the world. However, I do believe that she will be a more secure choice for the next
four years as the successor to President Obama, and one of them most qualified presidential
candidates ever. Keep in mind, the next president that gets elected might be able to appoint one or
more members to the Supreme Court, and I cannot stress the importance of appointing a progressive
justice.
Junior William Xie also believes that voting, especially for Hillary Clinton, is crucial in this
election not only because he considers it to be “the most important election in modern American history,” but also because not voting for any candidates means voting for Donald Trump. A man who could potentially build a wall to stop refugees seeking political asylum getting into America, over a
woman who will “greatly benefit our nation and serve to advance American interests both at home
and abroad.” The world needs an America where women do not receive “some form of
punishment” for abortions, an America that believes in the use of diplomacy instead of force with
foreign countries, an America that will not shut the door on people asking for help.
From Donald Trump’s poor attitudes towards minorities to Hillary Clinton’s carelessness in
handling state affairs, this election has definitely been one of the craziest elections in modern
American history. Whether you think that we are “stronger together” or that we should “make
America great again,” we can all agree that the election will not only shape the next four years,
but the next four decades. Part of the magic that is this election is that it has gotten millennials like
me much more active in American politics. My friends are actually talking about policy over gossip,
candidates over complaining about our teachers, and the political environment of America over the
meme of the month. As Thomas Jefferson once said: “Elections belong to the people. It's their
decision.”
As election day approaches, it all boils down to the essential question to many voters here: who is the lesser of two evils? The answer is simple. To preserve the progress made in foreign and domestic policy, environmental regulations, economic and health policies, Hillary Clinton needs to become the next Commander in Chief for the United States of America. Although I don't know what the results of the election will reveal, since Trump and Clinton are both extremely close in the polls, I do know that I will be praying that Donald Trump doesn't get elected.
Amy Liu
Most importantly, they’re divided on their next pick for president. On Tuesday, November 8, 2016,
the American people will choose a leader after the most bizarre election with the most hated
candidates in almost two decades. This election has not only enraged many adult voters, but also
enabled the youth community to be much more active. If elected, businessman Donald Trump
would become the oldest president to be chosen for office. However, if the Democratic former
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is elected, she would be the first female president of the United
States.
 |
Trump and Clinton at the Presidental Debate.
Taken from MarketWatch
|
feel intense apathy toward this election. The cycle of one-candidate-exposed-for-a-scandal-and-the-other-juicing-it-for-all-it’s-worth is very tiring and just plain sad to watch. Even though the amount of dirt these two candidates both have make them very unappetising to vote for, Donald Trump is blatantly going to be a worse president than Hillary Clinton.
Most teenagers I know showed strong support for Bernie Sanders and reluctantly gave Hillary
Clinton a nod, because the alternative choice is just unbearable. For example, my friend
Joceline Shen feels that this whole election is a fight between “liberals who actually care about
making the country great and people who blame their failures on others.” Although a lot of
teenagers support more liberal policies over Trump’s conservative ones, there are still some
teenagers that do advocate for Trump. Donald Trump is highly entertaining, but that’s all he is. He’s
a performer. He lives for publicity and disregards any sort of decorum, which may contribute to
why so many teenagers still vote for him. He’s all flash and no substance. In fact, when I asked some
SAS students why they supported Trump, I received answers like “I don't know why, I just do.”
Despite this, his rise to power is a scary yet somewhat logical story. With ISIS marking their
footprints all over the world, deteriorating foreign relations, and increasing racial tension, of course
the American people crave someone to tell them, “I got this. Don’t worry.” When our peers see
Donald Trump, they see a charismatic, candid outsider that is the fresh air Washington needs.
However, what they choose to ignore are his many flaws that make him completely unsuitable for
president. He is easy to manipulate, way too susceptible to conspiracy, unpredictable and most
importantly, he has a bizarre approach to policies.
Of course I’m not saying Hillary Clinton is the perfect candidate. She’s had her fair share of
disheartening moments. From her email scandals to Benghazi to her many exposed lies, she is not
exactly what I would want to see in the first female president of America and as a role model for
girls all around the world. However, I do believe that she will be a more secure choice for the next
four years as the successor to President Obama, and one of them most qualified presidential
candidates ever. Keep in mind, the next president that gets elected might be able to appoint one or
more members to the Supreme Court, and I cannot stress the importance of appointing a progressive
justice.
Junior William Xie also believes that voting, especially for Hillary Clinton, is crucial in this
election not only because he considers it to be “the most important election in modern American history,” but also because not voting for any candidates means voting for Donald Trump. A man who could potentially build a wall to stop refugees seeking political asylum getting into America, over a
woman who will “greatly benefit our nation and serve to advance American interests both at home
and abroad.” The world needs an America where women do not receive “some form of
punishment” for abortions, an America that believes in the use of diplomacy instead of force with
foreign countries, an America that will not shut the door on people asking for help.
From Donald Trump’s poor attitudes towards minorities to Hillary Clinton’s carelessness in
handling state affairs, this election has definitely been one of the craziest elections in modern
American history. Whether you think that we are “stronger together” or that we should “make
America great again,” we can all agree that the election will not only shape the next four years,
but the next four decades. Part of the magic that is this election is that it has gotten millennials like
me much more active in American politics. My friends are actually talking about policy over gossip,
candidates over complaining about our teachers, and the political environment of America over the
meme of the month. As Thomas Jefferson once said: “Elections belong to the people. It's their
decision.”
 |
The Trumps and the Clintons.
|
Amy Liu