On election night, many Americans praised the reelection of Barack Obama, while many others lamented Mitt Romney’s defeat. The two candidates from our nation’s two largest parties slugged it out over three debates and countless attack ads to become our president and one of the most powerful people in the world. Looking forward to the next four years is not something that comes very easy for me, at least not yet.
Growing up through the terrorist attacks on 9/11/2001, the housing market crash, and the greatest fiscal downslide since the Great Depression of the 1930’s, I can safely say that I have seen our great country go through quite a bit. Not to mention wars in Iraq and Afghanistan that have cost our nation over a trillion dollars and a great number of American lives. However, my chief concerns for our country are not over our fiscal policy or our position in the Middle East, I am concerned over the unity of our nation.
This election was polarizing. Stances on policies or hot button issues define candidates, political parties, and the people that they appeal to. A person’s own identity could be wrapped up in whether they voted yes or no. Many states and counties were won by very close margins in national elections as well as here in Minnesota.
Whether people like it or not, President Barack Obama will be our president for a second term, the Republican Party held the House, and the Democrats held the Senate. These are things that will not change for at least another two to four years. However, what I believe can change is the culture of politics, the culture in workplace, and in our schools.
We face a world where our economy is not fully recovered, the education of our children is slowly falling behind, and the politics in Washington are divided by party lines. Legislation is part of the answer, but not the only one. We the American people have to strive to be better, to compete with the rest of the world, to work harder. Students, businesses, and politicians will all have to make sacrifices and changes for the better of our country.
