YOUR DAY WITH BAI

Hello reader, I want to start this post off with a disclaimer. In light of the first 2024 Republican presidential primary debate airing this week, I will be discussing the upcoming presidential election. If you are feeling like you want to close out of this post, I ask you to stay. You are the exact person I want to talk to. First, I want you to realize I said person. I am not here to direct this post at anyone based off of political involvement, sexuality preference, specified gender, or inherited race. Some things I would like to address should help you get into the right mindset of reading this post. “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?” (Matthew 7: NIV) “This is my commandment, that ye love one another, as I have loved you.” (John 15: KJV) “You must not make any idols.” (Exodus 20: ERV) “The First Amendment has erected a wall between church and state. That wall must be kept high and impregnable.” (Supreme Court Justice Hugo Black)

Now, after reading these Bible verses as well as the statement regarding the First Amendment right that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion,” it is clear to see that any religious affiliation holds no place in law creation. Despite the clarity of these statements, the House, Senate, and Presidents have no issue with passing legislation based solely on “Christian” views and beliefs. The reason for the quotation marks around Christian is because if you are a true follower of Christ and His word, you could read those three Bible verses and see that there is no place for creating laws banning people from being homosexual, practicing drag, or having an abortion. If you agree with banning people from being their true selves then proceeding to cast judgement on them from living differently than you, you are not a true Christian. Within this claim, there are many Christians that Jesus Himself would be ashamed of from the lack of forgiveness, grace, and understanding. If you choose to live your life and cast your presidential votes off of “Christian values and beliefs,” you are a part of a problem that is deeply rooted in America. Our country was built on democracy, meaning we the people represent ourselves. Now, there are senators and presidential candidates hoping to return to an “America is a Republic” way of thinking which is the opposite of why our Constitution was created the way it was. America was built on freedoms and diversity. Nowadays, you have no place to say you are an independent party who sees both sides have their faults and this is dangerous. Less than ten years ago, you were capable of wanting a successful economy AND advocating for same sex marriage. Now, if you are pro-choice, you are deemed an American-hating, far-left Democrat. There needs to be a place in which all can be true: you want to earn a livable wage, you want people to have their freedom to dress in drag as much as you want to own your guns, and you want your children to experience all education they hope for. There must be balance in our country to allow this.

Despite the need for diversity and inclusion, Donald Trump plans to launch Project 2025 if he wins this term. I ask you to read more on this project than just their website. After reading the terms of this project, I want you to think about how this would affect America for decades to follow. This would allow direct presidential control over “rules for television and internet companies” as well as “consumer protection rules against businesses.” Think for a moment on how many positive outcomes we have seen from having one person in charge of how we live and what we consume. Some names that come to mind include Joseph Stalin, Saddam Hussein, and Adolf Hitler. Now I know what you’re thinking, how dare I compare Donald Trump to world-class dictators. Take into consideration that Donald Trump is only capable of serving one more term. Who will be President next and hold the same power to have more effect than the House and Senate? There is a reason that CNN is widely supported by Democrats and Fox is mainstreamed by Republicans. It is because we have the right to view what appeals to us, so think about how much that would change if every President had control over our consumption.

Now, this post is not an attack on Republican politicians or their values. Nikki Haley has great views on impacting our country in a positive way. She stands on the line of thinking about generations to come as well as allowing all Americans to coexist. As much as I believe Donald Trump is a poor choice for President, I can also place Joe Biden into the same category. In 2020, he was a better option than other candidates in my opinion. However since being in office, he has done nothing to stop the hate or laws made about women and marginalized communities which has made him lose many voters. Gen Z and Millennials saw a President willing to fight for all of our freedoms and equalities while other generations, including those in the Republican party, saw an option better than Trump. After seeing the lack of genuine help Biden has provided for groups who are being silenced, it is easy to see that his 2020 campaign included many false hopes and empty promises. Though he has not directly created hate among citizens, he has not done anything to protect the groups being targeted by hate.

One candidate who has created a campaign built on hate is one that many “Christians” are voting for. Ron DeSantis has been called “one of the biggest threats to democracy,” yet he has appealed to people’s hateful sides and is succeeding. A man who served as Florida’s Governor for nearly 3 years without raising any warnings on discrimination, has suddenly passed more than 200 laws in 2023 alone. Wonder why that is? Because he is running for office in 2024 and wants to make a name for himself. Regardless that he has built this name off of denying transgender healthcare, silencing education for our future generations, banning any book involving the LGBTQIA+ community, and transporting thousands of immigrants who make up the agricultural and constructional workings of Florida, he has become a household name simply from people in my state who hate anyone different from themselves for existing.

This post is not about how one side is better than the other because that argument changes based on candidates every election year. This post is meant to make you dig deeper than flipping on a news channel. This post is meant to make you think about the people you are voting for, not the President. This post is meant to encourage you to wake up instead of turning a blind, ignorant eye. This country is failing most of us. There is no longer a thriving middle class. There are the rich who will stay rich, the poor who will stay poor, and the majority who will forever be living paycheck to paycheck while not being able to purchase a home. I encourage you to look into all presidential candidates to see what they truly stand for after taking the plank out of your eye and decide what this country needs, not what this country should silence. I want you to realize that almost every solid candidate for the 2024 election has all stated the same thing. There is more than just corrupt politicians, but a corrupt system that no longer serves the people.

Having the opportunity to state where I stand in the 2024 and future elections, I will say this. If you are reading this and you are a friend or family member of myself, Stevie, or any other person who identifies as homosexual and you have no problem voting into office people who want to silence us, ban us from loving one another, making marriage for us illegal again, or promote violence on us, I hope you know not to tell us how much you love us when we visit during holidays. By supporting people who hate us, you are encouraging strangers to call us “fags” and “dykes” while we are simply walking down a street together. If you are a part of a problem that leads to me never marrying the person I want to marry, I do not care to sit around a dinner table with you. We are all allowed our opinions and differences, but none of my opinions infringe on your daily life activities. Democrats have no desire to eradicate heterosexual marriages, take away your guns, silence your freedom of speech, or make attending church a crime. But, by voting hateful people into office, you vote to change mine and many other lives entirely. So please, vote for the people.