With candidates openly declaring their disdain for each other, investigations into one candidate’s past use of government email and the other candidate accused of past sexual misconduct, the most rancorous presidential election in American history is about to take place. Voting for the next leader of the Free World is mere days away and tensions are at their highest.
To the outside world, the U.S., the nation that sets precedents for the rest of the world, falls just shy of a circus in the latest political antics. The question on foreigners’ minds is, “If the U.S. buckles under the leadership of a chauvinist dictator such as GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump, where does that leave the rest of the world?”
Millennials across the globe question the credibility of their leadership and even more so that of the U.S. “I think it’s a travesty that in this day and age people can actually field a candidate that spews so much hate speech,” said Duduzile Nyoni, a 23-year-old Zimbabwean residing in South Africa. “This year’s election will be a serious game changer because on one end you’ve got a Hitler ‘wanna be’ and on the other you have a woman. Secretary Hilary Clinton could be the first female American president, which in itself is quite an achievement for the female species.”
This election has the power to make great strides for the U.S., but it has just as much power to reverse the great progress made in the past 50 years.
If Clinton is elected, the U.S. will join the ranks of the United Kingdom, Germany, Ireland, South Korea and Liberia, just some of the nations currently led by women.
“Hilary Clinton could liberate women all over the world,” said Nyoni. “America’s stance in terms of political agendas might soften if there is a woman in power. Women have been known to avoid wars and to end them.
“In South Africa, we don’t experience this kind of tension. There’s a lot of tension emanating from America at the moment. Choosing between Trump and Clinton is basically choosing between Dolores Umbridge and Gilderoy Lockhart from Harry Potter.”
“In my country, one political party and presidential candidate always makes very big promises to communities who are unable to critically evaluate different parties and candidates.,” said a 22-year-old South African who identified herself as Miss van Vuuren. “They end up voting for the one who makes the best promises and sounds like they’ll be the best party to lead the country.”
The U.S. presidential election, despite its amusement and controversy, political observers cite, will have a lasting effect not only on America but also on the world.