2024 Election

    This is a heavy subject for my first post, but it is very relevant to our current reality. So, I bring into discussion the elections. 

    Elections have always confused me. People get so excited and passionate, wearing their "I Voted" stickers and adding the little boarder around their Facebook profile picture to show the world. Now, don't get me wrong, elections are vital parts to our Democracy and give the people the ability to voice their opinions. It gives the people a voice, and lets them know that their voices matter. It would be much better if said elections weren't skewed and manipulated as often as they are by people in positions of power, but I digress. 

    Today was my first time voting. Its in one of the closest races we've had in a long while between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris. I went with my mother to the polls. The entrance was lined with different signs rooting for their choice of candidate, all across the yard. We went in and I gave them my ID. They made me the little card you get that casts your vote, before I was led to a booth to make my choice. When we were done, we put our vote sheet in the machine, grabbed our stickers, and left. 

    My mom wanted a photo of us with our stickers to mark the occasion. She was so excited, which reminded me of how excited everyone gets about these things. However, I felt sick to my stomach. There was no excitement, there was no joy. All I felt was fear. Fear for the women around me, and their rights to their own bodies. Fear for my black and Asian friends, for my Mexican friends and their families. Fear for my trans and gay friends. Fear for myself and my community. It hit me that people who don't have to worry about losing their rights, find joy in election day because they don't have to worry about losing their rights. 

    There are so many people that have to fight every 4 years to try and keep their human rights. So many people dread elections because they don't know if they'll be treated like a person afterward. They don't know if they'll be able to walk the streets normally, or if they'll have to hide. Our human rights should not be a matter of discussion, they should be law. Our human rights should not be a debate for candidates to use as leverage to win the election. We are not objects to vote on, we are living breathing people. Seeing so many people excited about today makes my stomach churn, knowing so many families are terrified for their safety. We live in a reality that doesn't see everyone as human. This should not be our reality.

    I stand with those scared for their safety. I see you, you are not alone. We will never stop fighting for equality. No matter the results of today, we will never back down. You matter. 

    I voted today to protect those under societies thumb. I voted to protect my friends and family. I voted to protect the generations that come after me. I voted to protect my nation. I stand with them. 

Enjoy The Tea!