IDOLIZATION OF POLITICIANS IN AMERICAN SOCIETY

by Aimal Naveed

Whether it be your local mayor or the president himself, politicians are everywhere we look, embedded so deeply within our society that the average citizen would not stop to think twice about them. They’re accepted by the majority as superior beings, individuals who have power over us as they reside over their area of focus. And for that they are idolized, but at what cost?

We upsell their value way too much.

Politicians exist merely to serve us. They are place holders in our ancient democratic system whom we trust to make the minor, and sometimes major, decisions for us.

Despite their fancy titles and loftier status, however, they are still just people. Why are their lives given more importance than ours? And why is it that we treat them like celebrities?

They aren’t singers whose concerts we go to. They aren’t bands whose posters we hang on our walls. They aren’t actors whose work we admire and enjoy watching. They aren’t athletes whose games we look forward to.

They are public servants.

Everyone has seen those banners or flags people have on their front lawns advocating for a certain candidate. Particularly during the 2020 election, a stark contrast in political values was present between team Biden and team Trump -- it reached the point where you were judged by mere strangers based on who you were supporting.

But here is where a line is drawn. There is a big difference between agreeing with a politician’s political vision and devoting your entire life to them. It's like selling your soul to the devil, the way some politico have citizens wrapped around their fingers.

There has to be a limit established amongst American citizens as a whole in terms of the favor they show for politicians.

Let’s take a look at a particular tragedy that took place not so long ago, an event that will forever leave a lasting imprint in America: the storming of the U.S. Capitol building.

It was a Wednesday in the early days of 2021 when a large group of proTrump supporters protested againt Biden’s victory and rioted on the Capitol, leaving four people dead and several others injured. This came shortly after Trump himself urged his followers to fight against the “unfair” counting of votes.

These riots are a perfect example of the dangers politicians pose when they have an overly devoted campaign. Despite the utterly chaotic nature of trespassing upon political landmarks and threatening governmental figures, the rioters did it all without reverence for the consequences that would arise. People present within campaigns formed solely for one politician often end up carrying out dirty work, idolizing a person who otherwise would not even bother to acknowledge their presence.

This is precisely why we need to realign our morals to fit the role that is to be played by politicians. Presidents, legislators, mayors, governors, no matter how large or small a scale they are placed on, it is our duty as citizens to ensure that we do not devote our day to day actions based on every trifling word that comes out of their mouths.

The idolization of politicians in American society is a concept that has been around for ages, but as times change, these ideologies must follow suit.

Grade Level Reading:

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