For those keeping up with the elections, this is what we know so far. Any questions? #ElectionDay #PostElection #BattlegroundState #Trump2020 #Biden2020 #EveryVoteCounts #Vote #Vote2020 #democracy #EarlyVote #CountAllTheVotes pic.twitter.com/oopPG5BLMk

— ~Coley~ (@coley716) November 4, 2020

The heightened sensitivity, anger, and excitement around this election is wild—and understandably so.

However, as I have said throughout the campaign, I feel that people have lost sight of what is fair and what is just. The hate is stronger than the sense of decency. People have taken sides, and I hear nothing but blame, outrage, and criticism. It’s us against them. It’s you against me. It’s I cannot bring myself to get along with you if you don’t agree with me.

And I hate it. It’s making me numb, dulling my passion, and it’s downright exhausting. Though I may lean conservative, I am for the people—all of the people. I’m quite liberal when it comes to the freedom and civil rights of others.

Your abortion is not my decision to make. Your sexual preference would not turn me away. My life is filled with gay people, Black people, radicals, conservatives, liberals, the disabled, wealthy, poor, immigrants, and many others from all walks of life. It is a colorful place to live and not once have I forced or tried to coerce another to come on over to my side.

We are entitled to our opinions, beliefs, values, and morals. These are ours to own and share with like-minded people.

But what about integrity? That is what this election process is about. It is no longer about Trump and Biden. It is about the cheating, lying, and manipulating of those casting fake votes through ballots that didn’t belong to them and the poll workers who may be interfering and making intentional, premeditated errors to get their person into office—illegally.

Absentee ballots are important—for our military, those caring for ill family members out of state, and others who are unable to get to the polls. And mail-in voting may have worked if we held everyone to the same standards and the same deadlines. Backdating late ballots? Adjusting the rules as we go along? That’s a problem.

It’s not about Trump and Biden. It’s about us, the American people. We all deserve to know that our votes counted. We all need to know that three fake ballots did not wipe out three actual ballots. With all the fraud, deception, and unscrupulous actions of some, we all deserve to know the truth.

Whoever is the winner, I will respect and support the Office of the President; however, I cannot overlook the indecency of some of our citizens. I cannot stomach the fact that our words, actions, and intolerances are potentially poisoning the children. That we are teaching them that if you break a rule, it doesn’t count. Just scream loudly and stomp your feet and the world will cave to you. That if you don’t agree with someone, just bully them and continue to berate their beliefs because eventually, they’ll back down. That if you don’t do the right thing, that’s fine. There are no consequences. There are no rules that apply to you. And you don’t have to be accountable for your actions.

Wrong, wrong, wrong.

We need to teach them to be empowered, respectful, and tolerant. We need to lead by example in being truthful, responsible, and by letting our actions speak louder than our words. We need to show them how to live in a world fraught with diverse views, heated discussions, and hate—so that they can learn how to communicate and relate in a civil way.

Let’s put down our verbal weapons and not retreat, but reexamine our sense of fairness and decency. At the end of four years, the president will most likely be gone, but we will live on together—in our communities, in our society, in our country, and in our world.

~