As America stands on the brink of another pivotal election, the choices we face transcend mere party lines or ideological divides. This election is not about Democrat versus Republican, Israel versus Palestine, Black versus White, or Immigrants versus Native-born. Instead, it is a battle for the preservation of democracy, the rule of law, and, most critically, human decency. It’s a fight for who we are and who we strive to become.
This moment calls for a reawakening of our collective conscience, for a recognition that human decency demands respect for women’s rights, LGBTQ+ rights, support for our military, and dignity for the disabled. It requires us to recognize that Puerto Rico and Puerto Ricans are a fundamental part of America, equally deserving of representation, respect, and opportunity. Will we rise to safeguard the principles that define our republic, or will we falter, allowing these bedrock values to crumble under the weight of indifference and division? This choice could shape the destiny of our nation, our children, and generations yet to come.
As President Abraham Lincoln cautioned, “America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.” Today, that faltering comes in the form of a threat to civility, honesty, and respect for others’ dignity and freedoms. At a time when we are meant to strengthen our unity, we find ourselves divided, driven not by principle but by the corrosive forces of demagoguery and deceit.
Donald Trump, more than a former president or politician, has become emblematic of this threat to human decency and to how we, as Americans, engage with one another. His rhetoric and actions chip away at our values. He has turned empathy into weakness, cooperation into betrayal, and disagreement into mortal combat. Yet, we are reminded by Nelson Mandela that “the first thing is to be honest with yourself. You can never have an impact on society if you have not changed yourself.” This election, then, is a call to look within — to find the courage to choose a future built on inclusion, respect, and democracy over chaos.
This struggle is not new. George Washington warned in his Farewell Address against “the insidious wiles of foreign influence,” but he also cautioned us about domestic threats, urging Americans to stay vigilant in the face of those who would divide and conquer for personal gain. And here we are, faced with a cult of personality that would have us abandon our founding ideals for allegiance to a man who places himself above country, above law, above humanity.
The question we must answer, echoing President Barack Obama, is “Do we participate in a politics of cynicism or a politics of hope?” We must choose hope — but not a passive hope that merely wishes for better days. We need the courageous hope that actively strives to protect our democracy and the rule of law, champion women’s rights, LGBTQ+ rights, and provide dignity and support to all — including the military that serves us, the disabled who deserve equality, and Puerto Ricans whose voices and citizenship must not be overlooked.
Desmond Tutu famously said, “If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.” Today, neutrality is not an option. America must choose a side, and that side must be democracy. To sit this one out, to allow the toxicity of our times to numb us into complacency, is to turn our backs on the sacrifices of those who came before us and the promise of those who will follow.
We, the American people, are not a mob. We are not sheep to be corralled by the loudest or angriest voice in the room. We are a nation that once declared with passion and conviction that “We the People” govern ourselves. That power resides with each of us, individually and collectively. And as much as this election is a referendum on human decency and democracy, it is ultimately about us — our rights, our integrity, and our future.
In times of doubt, we must remember who we are. Lincoln urged us to embody the “better angels of our nature.” In this election, let us show our resolve to lift up those angels once more, to reaffirm that America is a land of fairness, courage, and unwavering belief in human dignity.
This is our moment to prove, once again, that we can rise above division and preserve our republic for the many, not the few. When darkness tempts us to turn away, let us summon that spirit of resilience that has always carried us forward — the spirit of “Yes, we can,” and “Yes, we will.” America, let’s make our choice clear: we stand for democracy, respect, and hope. And together, we will preserve the republic.
Dr Edward Summers
Executive Director, Pridelines
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