1.

I want to point out that you're the only comment that mentioned this. Every other comment was focused on the president and didn't even focus on the fact that there is more to the federal election than the president.

I agree, being "uninformed" is not good enough. It is what I did, and as I'm typing about it, that's just my mistakes and me trying to piece together what I did. I understand that our generation thinks that because 18 is the legal age to vote that we should exercise that right. I know that the federal election is the most popular, but what about the state and municipal? Aren't those more significant?

My point is, to bring into question the media. And although there are a lot of accurate sources, there's also the opposite. Even though there are ways to hone in and figure out what's true from false, the line has become unclear; especially when you don't already know where to start. I felt so pressured to vote for Biden that I didn't really think I had a third option. Thank you for pointing it out, and although I did miss this past election, I know that moving forward I have the option to leave it blank.

2.

I actually did reach out to my friends and family. I'm not sure how many times I need to repeat this, but here we are again: My family supports Trump. I come from a family that voted for Trump, therefore me learning what is "right" has taken me a while because I grew up thinking voting for Trump was the right way. The people that "share my similar beliefs" are Trump supporters. I'm trying to go outside of my bubble and comfort zone and educate myself. The first thing I did was admit publicly that I didn't do any of those things.

The "Army excuse" that you looked up to me is a low blow. If I've learned anything about becoming an officer is that to be able to lead, I need to be honest about what I don't know. You're admitting that somehow my failings and short comings are worse because I was expected to "know better". My entire life I've gone, faking it until I made it-- which I'm sure you're familiar with. If I would have continued to "fake it", this would be a different article.

I have traveled the world and you know what I've learned? I learned that voting for candidates is not the only thing that matters, it needs to be change within communities, and since I volunteer and am involved with my community; I am doing my part. I've learned that some people hide behind the, "I voted", to make up for their other short fallings. Voting may seem like it's doing something, but we still need to feed our hungry, even when "budget cuts" happen. You think that because you vote all the problems are going to change? We should know by now that the government can change all the rules they want, but it doesn't matter until the culture changes too.

3.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the whole point of "activist and advocates and students (like you) have been organizing all ear, writing articles explaining candidate policies, platform and key issues", is to inform others and share their knowledge, right? So instead of trying to help and sending me some of those and telling me where I can find them (which is what you describe as your mission) and hoping to make the change that you have been working to do, you're just going to shame me? Got it.

Why didn't I do my research? Did you not see the "excuses" I mentioned? I don't function like that. When something is making me anxious, I don't just face it head on. I didn't think, hmmm let me relieve this anxiety by knowing more about it. Should I? Perhaps. The fear I had, froze me. Again, not a valid excuse, but that is what happened to me, and I'm admitting it. This article was a draft, and I drafted it in 20 minutes. 20 minutes to do research is not enough. The time I could off used to research instead of write this article is just a stupid comparison.

You, key word you**, don't think it's brave that I admitted this. Your opinion is correct-- to you, it's your opinion. Your definition of brave doesn't match mine, and that's okay--I know it's brave admitting that I did something wrong, especially in the times we are in. We preach that it's okay to make mistakes, but it actually isn't, and we are hypocrites. My mistake is outlined above, and some people are not okay with that mistake, so the double standard is there. And yeah you can see it as lazy, but what went on behind it was more than me being lazy, no need to attack my character, there was a lot of fear, detachment and shame.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the whole point of "activist and advocates and students (like you) have been organizing all ear, writing articles explaining candidate policies, platform and key issues", is to inform others and share their knowledge, right? So instead of trying to help and sending me some of those and telling me where I can find them (which is what you describe as your mission) and hoping to make the change that you have been working to do, you're just going to shame me? Got it.

4.

Not voting to you means: that I don't care. Your beliefs have lead you to believe that because I don't vote I don't care about women, minorities, LGBTQ+ community, people living in poverty and other groups.

Not voting to me means: that I still care about those things, and I don't believe that the options presented are going to fix them in a way that I support. I refuse to believe that I have to vote for someone I don't believe in just because they are against Trump. I'm assuming you're aware how fear was created in minorities during this election, and not only did I feel that, but my entire family did too. Yes, it would be cool if I was able to be better than that and see past it, but I didn't, and it's a bummer that you're judging me off the lens you've experienced, as if being a minority hasn't come with a set of obstacles.

To clarify my, "I don't know how these rules affect me", are part of "these rules as a minority". I come from a marginalized community and I'm trying my best to understand why I feel like I have to hide that. I genuinely don't think that some of these theories and promises will help minorities and women. Voting means voting for a candidate that matches your beliefs in how to fix the issues in the community, AND in an individual level. Yes, voting for someone for my individual gains is part of voting, and I simply didn't think any of the options available represented that.

5.

Not trying to go for the low blows (but I will), but the way you are using cognitive dissonance sounds like you recently learned this term and want to throw it around to be superior--only making that judgment because I did that as a freshmen and it's the way most people react when they first learn new information.

Even if I am empowering people to feel validated, as someone who seems to advocate for change isn't that what we are after at the end of the day? Don't you want people to see their actions and hope that in identifying them they make better choices? Don't you want change? Just because it's not something you would do, it doesn't mean that you get to judge others who felt this trapped and froze.

You are assuming A LOT about me in your comments, and I get it. I do virtue signal a lot in my pictures, but at the end of the day, you've never had a conversation with me and you don't know me. Are you saying what you're saying because it's a reflection of me or a reflection of you and how you're feeling? Yes, I went to a BLM protest, and it didn't make it clear to vote for Biden, it just made it clear to not vote for Trump.

6.

This I answered during the comments, so the only thing I have to add is that thinking that going to a protest is performative, just because I didn't believe in my options to change the government (in reference to voting) shouldn't discredit or question my intentions for going. I understand how it does in your eyes, but the situation has more substance than that. I don't really understand how not voting means that what I've done up to that point was "performative".

BLM has a clear role and message. Voting for me, did not have a clear goal. That is the difference for me. You can read in between the lines and assume whatever, that is your choice.

And telling me to remove politician from my bio? Why do you feel entitled to tell me what to do?

7.

Just because we are both immigrants doesn't mean we are going to make the same choices. This is where I disagree. Every condition of my birth has made me the way I am, and to not acknowledge that does not feel true to my morals. It's cool that you were able to overcome those obstacles, but I didn't and this is my learning experience and I will go as fast or as slow as I need to.

It is standards and pressures like the ones you've mentioned that have brought me to this point. I wasn't learning quick enough and I wasn't changing and letting go fast enough and the reality is that I do have some catching up to do, before I am where you currently are.

It is 100% who my parents and friends voted for. Being one of the few people in my family and friend group to not vote for Trump is a big deal. I know it's not to you, but the fact that I was able to detach from that means the world to me, and reminds me that I am doing the right things for myself. I know it's hard to relate, because you are not me and you don't know what I'm thinking and what I'm hiding. And if we're being entirely honest, just because I went to a liberal school doesn't mean I was accepting what I was learning. I just knew it was the right thing to do and I was so scared to get shitted on and attacked for how I used to think, that I hid how I actually thought.

The things I think are worth changing will come from the state, how they plan to distribute funds--I can honestly go on forever with this one. I just don't think one person is going to fix all the issues that are at hand.

8.

You're assuming that because we went to the same school that we are the same person. Yes, everything you said is true, the resources, professors, etc. I was surrounded by that and still didn't learn. What I now know is a lack of initiative was clouded by insecurities, mental health, and honestly just being young and naive. There are people that spend their entire lives not voting, like my grandmother.

You assume that because it's what you did, it's what I should off done. I see your point, it's just hard to apply your standards to myself.

9.

I'm justifying it because that is what naturally occurs when describing what happened. What in the reading made you assumed that I'm not trying to learn from this and/or change it? You are being entitled in bringing up what my parents did for my citizenship and categorizing it as "throwing it away". WHY are you so quick to assume I won't vote next election? Oh because you see a pattern and you're ready to assume, got it.

Thanks? Yes, I will educate myself in the next 4 years... I feel really weird about this because it's like what you typed contradicts itself in the way that I'm not sure if you're trying to help while also trying to insult me, so I'll take the help and try to ignore the insult...

10.

I didn't know how to reach out, that is the entire point. I am a person with a problem, and I don't know how to ask for help and when I do it's late and I'm just shitted on for doing it at the wrong time. Do you not see the cycle, and how we treat people in general and especially in marginalized communities?

People that don't know how to ask for help, don't.

Yes, I wish I could off done a thousand things differently, and I didn't. Everything that has happened since the pandemic has been shit and I was clear on the vote against Trump, but I didn't think it was for Biden. I see how it's easy to just pick anyone against Trump, but it's still not clear that the other option is any better. Yes it is better than handling COVID poorly, but there's not going to be another COVID, perhaps waves of mutations, so yes it will be handled (hopefully) better.

I know how poorly everything was handled in Puerto Rico. There have been so many issues that have affected many, and I truly don't see how the other option isn't just empty promises. Then it opens the gate to the way certain people are distrusting in general and how it dictates whether they vote or not.

11.

I value your comment, because it bring into perspective everything said. There is a divided and pressure to vote for Biden for minorities, women, LGBTQ+, etc. I know the pressure I have is because I haven't always been supporting those groups; although I'm a woman and minority. Because of what I'm learning and understanding it's hard to wrap my head around the fact that I can just check a box and pretend that I care about those things, when I've had such internalized misogyny and homophobia.

I am at a weird cross road where I feel as if I check that box and vote for Biden, it means that I am now supporting these things that I was raised to hate (and until recently learned it was wrong), and now in retrospect checking the box could mean that I am still working on those things. There's so much subconscious misogyny and homophobia, and now I see how I stood idle during the time it mattered.

I know not knowing is not good enough, and I will change that. I just know that I'm not alone in this and if it takes me getting the shit so that people feel comfortable to read this and know that although their change is not "fast" enough, hopefully others can start reflecting too. Just wanted to plant the seed.