I was born in 1996; this election will be my first presidential election. Hillary has been my choice from the start: I felt she was best equipped to deal with international affairs, and admired her experience, practicality, and nuance. Yet for most of her political career, I have been either unborn or a child—a fact which made my understanding of her accomplishments less “detailed memories” and more “broad brushstrokes and highlights.”
It wasn’t until last night that I understood what “decades of experience” really meant.
I knew that Hillary had been a senator from New York. I never realized that she was there for 9/11, that she personally visited victims and fought for funds to rebuild New York—nor that, years later, she was an advocate for first responders.
I knew that she spearheaded a failed attempt at universal healthcare in the 90s—but not that, when that failed, she actually succeeded in her push to expand health care for millions of children.
I knew that she had been Secretary of State. I didn’t know that she brought attention to the horrors of human trafficking, in the US as well as around the world. Nor did I grasp the full scope of her accomplishments, or her ability to work with representatives of all stripes.(One of the DNC videos told how she brokered a ceasefire in Gaza—I am trying very, very hard to not imagine Donald Drumpf in that position.)
Perhaps most importantly, I had never heard of many of the accomplishments that Bill Clinton described in his speech—the efforts to end segregation and advance education that occurred before she even became First Lady.
90% of Bernie supporters are now turning to Hillary, and I hope that they continue to fight for progressive reform and liberal ideals. Watching the DNC last night, however, I wanted to sit the remaining 10% down by the TV—along with all the independents and moderate Republicans I can find—and say: This. This is why I support Hillary. This is a lifetime spent helping the marginalized, oppressed, and ignored—not just through big game-changers, but through consistent, smaller efforts that improve the lives of thousands. How in the world is this in any way comparable to Donald Drumpf—a bigoted racist whose humanitarian achievements are nonexistent at best?
I’ve always been excited about a Hillary Clinton presidency. Last night, however, I came close to jumping up and down. If the RNC was about fear and hatred, the DNC is showcasing humanity, hope, and compassion—and with Hillary at the helm, I can’t wait to see how far we can go.