Have a particular opinion about the upcoming election? Other than wanting it OVER?

Have a particular opinion about the upcoming election?  Other than wanting it OVER? 😉

Of course you do.  Everyone has one, right?  American or not, it doesn’t matter.

The night before the last US presidential election, I enjoyed the evening with Scottish colleagues and another American colleague at a bar in Edinburgh, Scotland. 

Clearly, the US election is broadly discussed across the world, but I didn’t realize JUST HOW MUCH until that night.

As we entered the bar, we were greeted with a choice...Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump? 

The employees were offering a choice of “candidate on a stick” masks.

I asked if there was a third option.   

Partially due to the time difference & jet lag, I was hopeful something had arisen since my departure from the states, & no one in Scotland had considered it important enough to share during work hours.

Unfortunately, the Scottish bar employees weren’t aware of a third option. 

Damn. 

I usually avoid actively participating in political discussions.  It’s not something I generally enjoy, & given I have zero intention or desire to influence anyone’s political opinion, to ME, it’s simply not worth it.   

I’m interested in others’ perspectives on all kinds of topics, including politics, but I generally learn about them in ways that don’t provoke a potential rile up session.  

If the people I know, love & respect decide to vote for Biden, great!  If they vote for Trump, great!   If they vote Libertarian, great!

If they write in & vote for their dog, great!  I appreciate the outside of the box thinking!   

Regardless of their choice, I trust they have their reasons. 

We each have our own, unique experiences & beliefs, so of course, our perspectives vary from others’ as well. 

Do we agree 100% with anyone on anything? 

Probably not. 

Before all the election "stuff", did our values align 100% with the values of our friends & family?

Probably not. 

So should we expect them to now? 

My Mom, brothers, sister-in-law & I discussed the election last week, & as odd as it is for me to say...it was actually fun!  

My brothers & I were raised in the same household by the same parents, our values generally align, & our votes still differ.  

Why?

None of us agrees 100% with either candidate or party.  We each have different experiences & perspectives, & our reasons for voting a particular way differ as well. 

Why was it fun?  Primarily due to the respect we have for one another.  We questioned one another to understand...not to ridicule or persuade. 

I can’t imagine how few people agree entirely with one candidate or the other...EVER. 

But, if we choose to vote, we have to make a choice, right? 

And as far as I know, we only have two VIABLE options this time as well. 

Again, damn.

So let’s make the most of the rest of this crazy ass year together, respectfully, with the people we love, regardless of their votes or their reasons.

And if a third viable candidate magically appears, please let me know.