JULIE FROMM / ASST. OPINION EDITOR

The views expressed in the editorial and op-ed sections are not necessarily those of  The USD Vista staff, the University of San Diego, or its student body.

Last week, I sat at my kitchen table and filled out my absentee ballot to vote in my home state of Kansas. I was  incredibly   proud to fill in the bubble next to Vice President Kamala Harris’s name. I allowed myself a  moment to imagine a progressive and united country led by the first female president of the  United States. At the same time, I reflected on the hectic and overwhelming election cycle that was now coming to a close, and I felt deeply saddened by the people in power that have allowed us to become such a divided nation. As a young woman, this election cycle has led me to reevaluate the people I surround myself with, what they stand for and whether they have my best interest at heart. It’s easy to say that it’s “just politics,” but it’s not — this is personal. This election could determine what the rights of women, transgender Americans, LGBTQIA+ Americans and many other groups will be. As a member of one of these groups, my vote and the votes of my peers are incredibly impactful, and  the values that they hold are just as impactful. 

To me,  former   President  Donald Trump represents regression toward a past that we have worked so hard to move away from. I remember where I was sitting when Roe v. Wade  was  overturned. At the time, as a 20-year-old woman, I felt the impacts of that decision with full force, and I felt scared for the future state that our country was heading toward. I also remember where I was when I found out that Kansas had voted for abortion to remain legal, and I have never been more relieved and grateful. 

Not only has Trump contributed to the overturning of Roe v. Wade, but he has also fueled an environment of hate. As reported by the New York Times, speakers at Trump’s recent rally at Madison Square Garden referred to Puerto Rico as a “floating island of garbage,” compared Harris to the “Antichrist,” called Jewish people “cheap” and Palestinian people “rock-throwers.” 

I wish that I could say that these statements are shocking, but they align with the rhetoric that Trump and his constituents have maintained for his entire campaign. 

Political opinions drive a wedge between relationships. Khushi Patel/The USD Vista

When Vice President Harris announced her intention to run for President, I felt a resurgence of hope that I hadn’t felt in many years. Her plans for our country felt like the light at the end of a long, dark tunnel, and a weight was lifted from my shoulders as I knew that I would be able to cast my vote for someone I could truly believe in. Once the news broke, many people that I followed on social media, and some friends of mine, did not feel the same excitement and argued in favor of Trump, saying that Harris was too weak to beat him. They would assert that certain aspects of Trump’s policies — like his plans for the economy — were the reason they wanted to vote for him, but I refused to accept that as sufficient. In my  opinion, it is far too late to hide behind Trump’s economic agenda. 

As I previously mentioned, Trump and his constituents have created an environment of hatred, misogyny and racism, and for my peers to say that they were able to ignore these things in favor of his economic goals told me that they didn’t care about my rights or the rights of millions of other Americans. 

As the election cycle continued, I made a personal decision to stop associating with people whose values I felt were too incompatible with mine. I unfollowed hundreds of people on social media, stopped speaking to some friends and realized  quickly  that this task wasn’t as hard as I imagined it to be. Being associated with people who did not stand for the  things  I  believe in was more difficult than breaking ties with them. As a democracy, every citizen is allowed to have their own political opinions. I would never say that other people are not entitled to their own beliefs. However, I draw the line when people’s political agendas begin to attack and threaten the rights of others. 

Having been an active participant in this historic election has been transformative for how I view the world. I was incredibly grateful to exercise my right to vote because I knew that my rights and the rights of so many people that I care about, depended on it. This election cycle forced  me to ask myself difficult questions, such as what I truly believe in, what my values are and who I want to surround myself with. It is important to me to associate with people who share my core values, and who believe  that as  an American woman, I deserve to maintain my rights, the rights that women before me fought for so ardently. There are so many unknowns in regards to the future of our country, but I know that I will look back on this period of my life and remember the important things I learned about myself and those around me. 

In recent years, the political climate has polarized the masses. Khushi Patel/The USD Vista