A Fight for a Better America: Election Season 2020 Reflections

“Regardless of which side you were on in the election,
regardless of whether your candidate won or lost, the sun would come up in the
morning. And that is one bit of prognosticating that actually came true. The
sun is up.[…] One thing you realize quickly in this job is that the presidency
and the vice presidency is bigger than any of us. […] Now, everybody is sad
when their side loses an election, but the day after we have to remember that
we’re actually all on one team. This is an intramural scrimmage. We’re not
Democrats first. We’re not Republicans first. We are Americans first. We’re
patriots first. We all want what’s best for this country. That’s what the
country needs — a sense of unity, a sense of inclusion, a respect for our
institutions, our way of life, rule of law, and respect for each other. […] That’s
the nature of campaigns, that’s the nature of democracy. It is hard and
sometimes contentious and noisy and it’s not always inspiring. But to the young
people who got into politics for the first time and may be disappointed by the
results, I just want you to know, you have to stay encouraged. Don’t get
cynical, don’t ever think you can’t make a difference. As Secretary Clinton
said this morning, fighting for what is right is worth it. Sometimes you lose
an argument, sometimes you lose an election. You know, the path that this
country has taken has never been a straight line. We zig and zag and sometimes
we move in ways that some people think is forward and others think is moving
back, and that’s OK. […] The point though is [is] that we all go forward with a
presumption of good faith in our fellow citizens, because that presumption of
good faith is essential to a vibrant and functioning democracy. That’s how this
country has moved forward for 240 years. It’s how we’ve pushed boundaries and
promoted freedom around the world. That’s how we’ve expanded the rights of our
founding to reach all of our citizens. It’s how we have come this far. And
that’s why I’m confident that this incredible journey that we’re on, as
Americans, will go on.”

These were some of the words from President Barack Obama the
day after President Donald J Trump’s 2016 win. For the past four years, these
words have continued to inspire and push me to never give up the fight for what
is right. Although Election 2016 was a loss for the Democratic Party, the words
of President Obama resonated with many Americans. One loss was not the end of
it all. That one loss ignited the fire to fight for what is right for the next
four years, and thereafter.

I am a child of South Asian immigrants. I am also a woman. I
also belong to the upper middle class population.  Being an American with the demographics I identify
with was not always easy. Asians were not allowed to naturalize as Americans
until the 1940s and women were not even allowed to vote until the 1920s. That
is the very nature of being an American. We push boundaries and we fight for
the fundamental rights for all. Since the conception of our country with the
words that “All men are created equal,” Americans have not stopped fighting
until all men are truly treated as equals. As President Obama stated, “Americans,
will go on.” That is what makes our country great – our drive to never give up
and to keep fighting for what’s right.

The past four years have opened up the eyes of many
Americans as to what is wrong with our nation. No country is perfect, but it
can only be successful if, generation after generation, the constituents
challenge the status quo and work to create a better nation. We have done this
at many points of our history. Our ancestors challenged the status quo and
upheld the fundamental roots of our democracy, which resulted in movements such
as the Abolishment, Civil Rights Movement, Immigration Reform, Suffragette
Movement and so on. As a member of the youth of our nation in this crucial
period in history, I want to continue on the passion for a better America our
ancestors sought.

This election, unlike others, has not been a competition for
a difference in policies. It is a clear divide between what is right and what
is wrong. We are in a fight to protect the fundamental basic rights of all
Americans. We are in a fight to protect our Earth from environmental threats.
We are in a fight to ensure that all LGBTQIA+ community members have their marital
and sexual rights protected. We are in a fight to abolish systemic racism. We
are in a fight to end religious intolerance. We are in a fight to create a safe
and efficient way for people all across the globe to immigrate to America to
live their own American dream. We are in a fight to protect the rights of women
and give them the freedom to choose what to do with their bodies. We are in a
fight to uphold the Constitution and safeguard our democracy from anything that
threatens to break it down. That is what the Election of 2020 has at stake.

Following the 2016 sentiments of President Barack Obama, we
will not give up. No matter what happens today, the fight is only just
starting. No matter who becomes President, Americans have a lot to do to ensure
a better America. When we vote, we take a big step into creating the country
that is a great country for all its citizens. That is why it is imperative to
be an educated and informed voter.

Whether our country is red or blue November 4, 2020, we
still be Americans at the end of it all. As Americans, it is our job to protect
the rights of anyone who lives on our land. Never give that up.

To all Americans, good luck.