All views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author, and do not represent the Roar as a whole.
In this election cycle, it’s more important than ever to consider who you’re voting for
The author of this article is the daughter of current School Board member April Chandler, who represents the Algonkian District. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author alone, and are no way associated with April Chandler and her office.
On July 21, 2024, Joe Biden stepped out of the presidential election race, fundamentally changing the future of the race and this article (which has been sitting on a back burner since June). His move came after being highly scrutinized for his debate performance against Republican candidate Donald Trump. As he stepped out, he endorsed current vice president Kamala Harris, who was declared the Democratic nominee at the Democratic National Convention.
This election comes at the height of political tensions in the United States; the partisan divide is looking more like a gaping chasm with every passing day. Republicans and Democrats are divided over issues such as abortion, border defense, and the economy.
One such issue that’s decisive to voters is the war between Israel and Hamas, and the genocide in Gaza. The UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Occupied Palestine, Francesca Albanese, reported to the UN Human Rights Council that there are “reasonable grounds to believe that the threshold indicating- the crime of genocide… has been met” – this is being explained to justify the use of the term “genocide” in this situation.
There are many people who are heavily concerned about the genocide and the US’ involvement in it. And to them, both candidates are less than ideal.
Trump, notably, called Joe Biden a “weak Palestinian” during the first presidential debate, and told Israel to “finish what they started.” He’s taken a harsh stance on protestors, and his general disposition and habit of attacking both enemy and friend is sure to not help the issue.
And Harris, though she has called for a ceasefire, is unlikely to significantly deviate from Biden when it comes to the United States’ weapon sales to Israel. She is thought to be more critical of them, though it isn’t enough to appease the pro-Palestinian population of voters who are still undecided.
A large number of these voters are Muslim and come from key swing states. It’s also the younger generations who are hesitant about voting for either candidate due to their policies regarding Gaza.
In such a divided political climate, it is these people who will decide our next president. The people who are currently undecided, the people who want to abstain from voting, and the people who are determined to vote third party.
It is undoubtedly a fact that the United States operates under a two-party system. Therefore, a vote that isn’t for Kamala Harris is a vote for Donald Trump. Unfortunately, it is not a black and white situation, and while there are candidates in other parties, they have no chance of actually winning. Every vote not going to Harris will help Trump win, as seen historically with the splinter effect – in which third party candidates have taken votes from one party, leading the other party to win.
In terms of ending the genocide in Gaza, this is a case of picking the lesser evil.
We have to think about our own country first. Donald Trump is racist (shown through attacks on his opponent Harris, his view of immigrants, and his proposed Muslim ban). He is sexist (shown through his language regarding women, including a 2005 comment about grabbing women by their privates). He is a convicted felon, and a coward who incited a coup because he couldn’t accept that he didn’t win. His first term in office consisted of tens of thousands of misleading claims or blatant lies. The people he put into office have been responsible for stripping away the rights of women (the repealing of Roe v. Wade) and LGBTQ+ people (limiting protections and endorsing discrimination). His moral compass is a weathervane on a windy day, and he is the single biggest threat to democracy as we know it.
Voting will not save us, but neither will not voting.
And with Kamala Harris as president, regarding the genocide in Gaza, there is a chance to make the less evil, less evil – something abjectly impossible with Trump. By continuing to put pressure on her to stop arms sales to Israel, call for a permanent ceasefire, and support Palestinian self-determination, we have more of a chance to end the genocide.
But first we have to get her elected to office. Register to vote here.