How do we choose a president?

I have my teacher hat on. I teach lessons on bullying, consent, kindness, listening, and having compassion. This is how I am watching our future president give speeches.

Dear Beautiful Readers, 

Today, I’m sharing something that I should know more about. Yes, I am should’ing on myself. This is one reason I love writing to you all, to share my uncertainties and to hopefully hear some wisdom from you. 

I do not know how to vote for a president regarding their policies. I felt like I have, however in the past two elections, I have been struggling.  I have been insecure about admitting this.  Yet, in, the dark alleys I hang out in and talk to people of both parties, I find that I am not alone. We tend to talk more about character, or superficial findings of a person than what they believe and how they will act according to their stances. 

Is this because being president also is in accordance with the congress? Is it because of how our debates are run? Is it because reality TV has become popular and people desire that kind of entertainment? Or is it because we have gotten so out of touch with the rest of the world and super individualistic that the “ME” in voting outweighs the issues at hand? Or something entirely different? 

I am writing this after the Democratic National Convention (DNC) took place in Chicago, IL. We were on vacation and drove through the outskirts of the city instead of going through it. I did watch about 80% of the convention this year, this being my first year of actually following it. To balance it out, my husband and I listened to former President Trump’s speeches throughout the country. We were in the Midwest while on vacation, traveling with destinations in Iowa and South Dakota. We spent nights in many different states; Iowa, South Dakota, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Illinois. We passed MANY Trump flag stands in our, over 4,000 miles of driving, and knew we needed to have some talking points with people that we were meeting along the way. Also wanted to hear the other side of the story. 

I don’t feel I got a talking points but felt a very different vibe from each party. In short, the DNC focused on Kamal Harris’ upbringing. Showing that she was a person of hardworking and caring mom. Her mom was a woman who came from India and made a place for herself in research. She taught Kamala Harris to be kind, caring, educated, and stand up for what she believes in or stand up if there is a wrong happening. When VP Harris gave her speech it was about how she will work with other powers, work for women’s rights for abortion, freedom to love who one wants, and how the current administration is working on a cease-fire. -

What I heard in the Trump rallies we listened to, if I still liked being drunk, I would have used the word “STUPID” to drink. The speeches he gave talked about all the “stupid” people there are and all the “stupid” things they have done. He would share about himself and the great things he has done. However, some of the fact-checks did not find the details he shared. We listened to the Elon Musk and Donald Trump conversation on X, too. This was not supposed to be an interview, just two men having a conversation. However, Mr. Trump had a very difficult time listening and it seemed more like a speech than a conversation. Even though, both men made jokes that Kamala wouldn’t even be able to talk that long (because she has nothing to say). I am not going to go through the details but I would invite you to listen to the X “conversation” as Elon was trying to share a few ideas that got lost in Mr. Trump speaking over him. For me, I was disappointed in Trump as a candidate because he does not talk about the policies he will put in place. I wonder if showing how Trump can be vulgar and crass and be in power is the strategy. Trump seemed to show he does not live for societal norms and this helps people feel powerful and thus his strategy. 

I would also invite you to listen to the DNC to create talking points regarding this election (Oprah at DNC Harris at DNC). I notice in talking with people, I do not feel I have enough to talk policies after watching so much of the DNC. I do feel that I understand the strategy of making Kamala a human from an immigrant mother. I can talk about her character.

In this moment I will not go into my views of what I want for specific policies. Maybe in the coming weeks, I will venture into unknown territories of things I want to see happen in America. For now, I am, even though I know it is not at all a great strategy regarding how to vote, have my teacher hat on. I teach lessons about bullying, consent, kindness, listening and having compassion for others in the room. I teach about how to use one’s words. With the school year starting next week, my brain is flooded with these concepts that I will be teaching with K-5th graders.

And thus, my voting brain is mixing up these concepts and I can not imagine having a person who calls others stupid be our president. I can not imagine having a man who can not listen to another person while having a conversation be our president. I do not want to imagine a man who uses his privilege to mispronounce someone’s name be our president. I do not want to imagine a person who misuses power and privilege and makes fun of it outright and says he can “shoot someone on 5th Avenue” and get away with it as our president. 

To have a woman, go underground in the tunnels between America and Mexico to better understand the drug chains and cartels, I can see as president. Someone who smiles, gives hugs, waves and then places her hand on her heart, I can see as president. To have a woman who saved a voicemail from her husband before they even went out as their wedding anniversary ritual, I can see as president. Who starts the speech, “Let’s get down to business” then starts with gratitude and shows love to several, I can see as president. A prosecutor who sees she is for the people, I can see her as the president of the United States of America.

I will do my best to create something that looks at policies but this blog is not for facts, stats, and headiness. It is about personal stories and so, I will look at policies and how they affect me, my family, and those I care about. I hope we will be able to have conversations about things that are difficult for us to help us grow. 

And remember-

VOTE!!! No matter who you are voting for………VOTE!!! 

God Bless You, 

Suzane Scholten