With election day quickly approaching, it is hard to escape from the overwhelming amount of propaganda that seems to be everywhere. It is impossible to turn on the TV or scroll through social media without seeing some sort of political ad. This, to me, is concerning. It is not the amount of ads that is troublesome, but the content. My Facebook feed is filled with memes comparing Donald Trump to Lord Voldemort and Hillary Clinton to one of the little girls from The Shining. There are emotional statements from women who feel objectified and soldiers who feel betrayed. There is video after video after video claiming to "expose" the truth about one of the candidates. People are fired up, but for the wrong reasons. It is great to see people feeling passion for politics. However, this isn't politics. This is childish banter.

This election year, we have serious issues facing the nation. Issues much bigger than emails and tax returns. While it is necessary to discuss these topics, they should not be what defines your vote. We should not be talking about the personal issues of Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. We should be talking about our rights as American citizens. We should be talking about the issues that face not just our nation, but the world. We should be talking about how to send our children into the world and know that they will be safe. We should be talking about what can be done to make this country a better place for everyone that lives in it, no matter their wealth status or race or gender or religion.

This is why I do not talk politics. I am registered to vote, and I will be casting my vote for the candidate that I feel is best suited to run our country this November. However, I will not tell you who that is. You will not scroll down my Facebook wall and see angry posts about one of the candidates. You will not look in the comments sections on a post that I disagree with and see my name. I do not talk politics, but I do talk issues. I am a firm believer that climate change is an issue to be taken seriously. I support the right to bear arms, but I believe that gun control is necessary for the safety of our country. I believe that a woman has the right to choose what happens to her body. I believe that every person has the right to be who they are, regardless of their race, gender, religion, or sexual orientation.

These are my personal beliefs. I do not expect everyone to agree with me. I do, however, expect respect. I will always respect the beliefs of others and truly enjoy issue-based discussions. In the last year, two conversations stand out to me. Both were with peers that do not share my beliefs. During the first conversation, I was asked questions. Why do you feel that way? What impact do you think this will have? Is there a better alternative? What do you hope for the future? I asked these very same questions. Despite our differences in opinion, we did not argue. We did not bicker or fight or belittle the opinions of the other. We listened to the opinions of the other and agreed to disagree in some areas. However, in some areas, we found that we had the same concerns. We had the same fears and hopes for the future of this country. By discussing the issues themselves, our differences did not divide us. They connected us.

A few months later, I had a distinctly different conversation. Without ever expressing my personal political affiliation, I was labeled a "stupid liberal" and a "Hillary lover". This was extremely frustrating. I do not want candidate-based insults thrown in my face. That says nothing about my political views and nothing about yours. I want to know why you support that candidate. I want to know how you feel about the real issues, not your opinion of the latest political drama on the news that week. Tell me more than just a regurgitation of the inflammatory Facebook post you read that morning.

We are so very lucky to live in a country that allows each citizen to have a voice. So please, use that voice beyond angry social media posts. The next time you come across someone who does not share your political beliefs, please resist the urge to insult their intelligence and pick a fight with them. Ask them what their stances are on the issues. Have an intelligent, adult conversation. Let it connect you. Get informed. Get behind a candidate for the right reasons. Most importantly, get out and vote on November 8.