My wish for Indian Country during this election year is that we stop trying to put a positive spin on candidates and pretending that the choices we have are not problematic. We need to be unflinchingly honest, critical and hold them accountable for their behavior and policies.
We need to stop pretending that once we get rid of this administration, if we get rid of it, that the problem will be solved and we won't be yet again fighting against the policies of the next administration that will undoubtedly & negatively impact our communities.
I'm voting for Biden/Harris because like @MsKellyMHayes said "I'm casting a ballot against full-blown fascism" but I am not under any illusion that they are the best choice, they just happen to be the better choice in an election year where the bar has been set so incredibly low.
I'm really disappointed in the way that I see Indian Country glorifying the choices before us, especially when the candidates we have to choose from have engaged in problematic, violent behavior towards women and have created/supported policies that have hurt Native communities.
We don't have to show unconditional or favorable support for any candidate, we can vote for them while absolutely calling attention to the fact that they aren't a morally superior or less evil choice, choosing between the lesser of two evils is still choosing evil.
We can be honest about that and I think most of us know that, but we are voting because the alternative is to allow the current administration to create further chaos and division, to shit on our democracy and civil/human rights.
This is also why I am not going to shame or condemn people voting third party, writing in or not voting at all. The reasons why people vote the way they do or don't vote at all are ALL VALID. My only hope is that people will be informed and aware of what's at stake.
And that's losing what little progress we have made in the last 244 years for BIPOC and marginalized communities and for co-existing and moving forward as a Nation.
Share this Scrolly Tale with your friends.
A Scrolly Tale is a new way to read Twitter threads with a more visually immersive experience.
Discover more beautiful Scrolly Tales like this.