THERE is less than a week to go before America decides who will become the 45th president of the United States.
Poll after poll has shown how much people want to have this civic exercise over and done with, given the toxicity this election cycle has been characterized with, not only by the campaigns of each major political party, but by their ardent supporters as well.
As fear, hate and disgust of the nominee of the opposing party continue to motivate voters to head to the polls and exercise their right of suffrage, it is important for us to look at the big picture. This election is beyond policy and platform or the here and now.
Whatever the outcome of the election is will become our legacy to the next generation; that is why we have to vote conscientiously, consistently with and following our very own moral compass in choosing the candidate whose message, vision, and example resonate with us.
Surely we have two flawed candidates, but this should not stop us from discerning as to whom among them will lead our nation toward the direction we want to take our kids to.
Among the many campaign speeches, First Lady Michelle Obama’s speech is a sobering reminder about this — that voting for the right candidate is our gift to our children.
Let me share with you excerpts from the First Lady’s speech that has moved me so much as she spoke about allegations of Trump’s sense of entitlement in disrespecting, abusing and sexually assaulting women.
You may disagree with what Mrs. Obama said about the allegations against Trump, finding flaws and criticisms against Clinton.
That is a valid point, especially in light of the email controversies that continue to hound the Clinton campaign. But I am sharing this with you to make a point about how consequential this election is, especially for our children and grandchildren:
“This is not politics as usual. This is disgraceful. It is intolerable. And it doesn’t matter what party you belong to – Democrat, Republican, independent – no woman deserves to be treated this way. None of us deserves this kind of abuse.
And I know it’s a campaign, but this isn’t about politics. It’s about basic human decency. It’s about right and wrong. And we simply cannot endure this, or expose our children to this any longer – not for another minute, and let alone for four years. Now is the time for all of us to stand up and say enough is enough. This has got to stop right now.
Because consider this. If all of this is painful to us as grown women, what do you think this is doing to our children? What message are our little girls hearing about who they should look like, how they should act? What lessons are they learning about their value as professionals, as human beings, about their dreams and aspirations?
And how is this affecting men and boys in this country? Because I can tell you that the men in my life do not talk about women like this. And I know that my family is not unusual. And to dismiss this as everyday locker-room talk is an insult to decent men everywhere.
The men that you and I know don’t treat women this way. They are loving fathers who are sickened by the thought of their daughters being exposed to this kind of vicious language about women. They are husbands and brothers and sons who don’t tolerate women being treated and demeaned and disrespected. And like us, these men are worried about the impact this election is having on our boys who are looking for role models of what it means to be a man.
In fact, someone recently told me a story about their six-year-old son who one day was watching the news- they were watching the news together. And the little boy, out of the blue, said: “I think Hillary Clinton will be president.” And his mom said: “Well, why do you say that?” And this little six-year-old said: “Because the other guy called someone a piggy, and you cannot be president if you call someone a piggy.”
So even a six-year-old knows better. A six-year-old knows that this is not how adults behave. This is not how decent human beings behave. And this is certainly not how someone who wants to be president of the United States behaves.
Because let’s be very clear. Strong men – men who are truly role models – don’t need to put down women to make themselves feel powerful. People who are truly strong lift others up. People who are truly powerful bring others together. And that is what we need in our next president. We need someone who is a uniting force in this country. We need someone who will heal the wounds that divide us, someone who truly cares about us and our children, someone with strength and compassion to lead this country forward.”
Whom ever you will be voting for, make sure you listen to that voice in your heart.
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Gel Santos Relos is the anchor of TFC’s “Balitang America.” Views and opinions expressed by the author in this column are are solely those of the author and not of Asian Journal and ABS-CBN-TFC. For comments, go to www.TheFil-AmPerspective.com, https://www.facebook.com/Gel.Santos.Relos
