Graphic by Vivian McPherson ’23
BY SAM MOULTON ’22
When I walked into the debate watch party in Dwight Hall on Thursday night, I was already tired. I was exhausted by the idea of having to watch 10 people, none of whom I feel strongly about, snipe and claw and make sound bites for three hours.
My spirit did lift when I actually arrived at the event; the turnout was strong and the attendees were, if not excited, at least engaged. Everyone jeered at a heavily rehearsed catchphrase and leaned in when one of the candidates made a trite, impassioned plea for universal health care or any of the other five issues that have been routinely asked about at these debates.
Despite the turnout and the interest, there was something noticeably lacking at the screening — a sense of inspiration.
“I am very undecided and I’m looking for someone to get behind. I was hoping the debate could help me see the candidates in a presidential light,” Charley Kidd ’23 said. “Honestly though, I’m scared. I don’t want to see Trump elected again.”
“At this point, I am just stressed. Who can I feel the most passionate about without feeling guilty that I’m supporting someone with a questionable track record? Who’s going to take on Trump and get out the vote?” Madeleine Defosses ’21 said.
I was sitting in a room full of young people who feel passionately about a plethora of issues, many of which were being discussed, and yet the candidates themselves were bland. The lack of passion is understandable; it’s reasonable to be undecided a year away from an election and with so many candidates in the race.
What this debate reminded me was that, for a candidate to be successful, they need to instill a sense of passion for something, rather than against others. Despite the back and forth of the debate, which had moments of high tension, particularly during an exchange between former Vice President Biden and Senator Sanders on Medicare, it was hard to rile up my own passions.
Not a single person onstage made me feel a glimmer of hope.
All of them were debating issues which matter to me both personally and philosophically, but the one-minute sound bites did little to alleviate my concerns. In fact, I was beginning to panic.
Donald Trump is vile, racist and misogynistic, but he is captivating. Ultimately, many of us look away and feel sick, but he sticks in the mind. In contrast, during the debate, every time the camera moved from a candidate I almost forgot that they existed.
I need a candidate that can make me forget about Donald Trump and who can be more than just the other option.
We won’t win with “at least they’re not Trump.”
President of the College Democrats Elena Frogameni ’22 defended holding the screening.
“This is about being an active college student on our campus. It’s a chance to come together to build their enthusiasm and be involved in the process of democracy,” she said.
That struck me. All these Mount Holyoke students had shown up and they were trying, despite their uncertainty and exhaustion, to be good citizens. My panic subsided some and I tried to remember that we still have time. We have time to galvanize and unite behind one candidate.
What it will take is a moment where the nation can envision a true leader. All of us, myself included, are waiting.