Voting, Privacy, and the Weight of Hate: Privacy Meets Morality in a Divided America
Voting is a right—a pillar of our democracy. Privacy is a right—a shield meant to protect you from intimidation or coercion, especially in the context of voting.
There was a time when sharing who you voted for was considered a private matter, something not openly discussed. But with the rise of social media and shifting societal norms, political affiliation has become something people wear proudly on their sleeves or even put in their social media bios!
The issue arises not in the sharing itself, but in the world you share it into. In today’s climate, political beliefs go far beyond “agree to disagree.” It is no longer a debate, it’s a line drawn in the sand. And more often than not, there’s no middle ground.
The Line Between Political Preference and Moral Failure
With each passing day, the cost of a Trump vote reveals itself. Hate rhetoric rises. Swastikas resurface. Blacks and browns fear for their existence. Law enforcement feel emboldened and immigrants are caged and forgotten. To many of us, this isn’t politics—it’s life, liberty, or death for many communities.
As MAGA supporters begin to turn their backs on Trump, some of them want grace. “He didn’t run on that,” they say. “We didn’t expect this.” Many of us sat on the sidelines– informing and watching the same people who preached morality vote for cruelty– and now they want back in?
MLK Fought Hate Without Becoming It
In the civil rights era, as we all know, segregation was law. Hate was legal. And yet Martin Luther King Jr. never met hate with more hate. He led with love, without surrendering truth. As he said:
“Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”
But even love has boundaries. “Truth may be crucified and justice buried, but one day they will rise again.”
Do We Forgive Them?
Do we forgive Trump supporters? Do we lead with the love our ancestors had for the hate they faced? That’s up to us. MLK didn’t excuse hate (racism), he confronted it with dignity. Though maybe our dignity now means something different than it did in the ’60s. Maybe it means no longer tolerating moral betrayal under the mask of “difference of opinion.”
Because in the end, privacy protects your vote but your choices still have consequences. MLK stuck to love. But he also demanded justice. And while we’re not obligated to hate, we’re also not obligated to forget.
Many wore their hate on their sleeves in the ’60s. Today, it lives more quietly—in ballots, in silence, in denial. And we still have to face it.
Until then. Good night and good luck.
