It's 2016, and there has never been a more interesting political scene to hit the United States. With the final nominations secured from each major political party, our top two contenders for the presidency are Hillary Rodham Clinton and Donald Trump. Both politicians have had their fair share of scandal during the election process, but at the end of the day, the policies each candidate brings to the table are what will have an impact on the American people, more specifically a major impact on women and minorities.

At the beginning of July, the Republican party released its platform which is quite frankly antiquated in its terms and additions. It strives to limit and attack the rights of the LGBT community, citing multiple times that a marriage is "one man and one woman" as well as the "antidote" to childhood poverty (although I cannot see how, since being married does not mean you aren't living in poverty yourself, nor does it mean every married couple has children.) It also supports discrimination from businesses toward LGBT clientele, and the termination of privacy rights for transgender and gender fluid students in schools while promoting "conversion therapy" for gay youth. Not only does the platform target the rights of this community, the party itself does not take the rights of these individuals seriously, as committee members wrote in offensive and disparaging terms toward the gay community multiple times.

The platform continues to address the reproductive rights of women under the current Affordable Care Act (which they oppose) specifically focusing on abortion. The platform believes they will be "affirming the dignity of a woman" by banning abortion. As a woman, let me begin by saying I do not need anyone besides myself to "affirm my dignity," let alone a room full of men who will never have to struggle with the emotional decision and process of having an abortion. Also, really? Affirming dignity? When did we traverse in time to the early 1900's, where a woman's dignity could be questioned at the drop of a hat? Once, again the Republican party leaders are showcasing their old fashioned patriarchal sensibility.

In addition to women and the LGBT community, most infamously under siege from the platform are immigrants and persons of color. The party would like to revoke the executive amnesties of 2012 and 2014, rendering all who took part illegal citizens once again. This would tear apart thousands of families and homes they so specifically cherish in their Marriage, Family, and Society section. Moreover, the platform supports building border protection, specifically a wall, around the country to keep out "terrorism, drug cartels, human trafficking and criminal gangs" all of which they have associated with ethnic minorities effectively besmirching and marginalizing groups of people whose ancestors were either here first, brought in as slaves or traveled to America for a honest, hard working opportunity. While these issues are indeed important, they should not be linked to any specific group due to their heritage or skin color.

As minorities, we cannot allow the American people be led and blinded by bigotry and hate hidden within a parties platform. Human rights are basic rights and are outlined in this nations blueprints. "That all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with unalienable Rights." This doesn't mean we must vote Democratic in the upcoming election, but we must vote. Sitting in silence is no way to combat the injustices currently occurring and continuing in these United States. Together, our voices can make a difference, and we can bring our country away from darker times to come if we do not stand for our rights. We must push forward, and have our voices heard on important issues that will either progress the entire nation, or stifle our future before it has a chance to truly grow.