American Politics, To An Outsider

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Editor’s Note: The following article was written by 16-year-old Sorcha Kennedy from Ireland.

I’ll be honest, Irish politics is not all that interesting. Besides from the occasional referendum, and the usual local elections, the biggest scandal that has happened in the last few years was when our head of state, known as a taoiseach, sent Kylie Minogue a letter using government stationery. When I say nothing happens, I mean nothing happens, and it gets boring. So, in the last few years I’ve found myself following american politics closely. It’s something about the over-the-top candidates and the constant scandals that has really drawn me in. Watching the 2016 election, from my little island, I couldn’t help but wonder, “America, what the hell are you thinking?”.

I still don’t fully understand how Hillary won the majority votes, but didn’t become president, or how Americans allowed a businessman, with no political background to become president. More recently, the coverage on the impeachment trial has sparked my interest. I mean, to me, it seems pretty simple. I feel an urge within, to scream “WHAT TOOK SO LONG”at my screen, but I restrain myself (as to not spook my dogs). I watch as planned parenthood struggles to keep their doors open, I watch as neo-nazi groups and the KKK continue to thrive and I watch as the american people elect a racist, sexist and general idiot into office, and I wonder how these things are allowed to happen.

But, everything is always easier to critique from the outside. It’s like sitting at home watching ‘Fear Factor’ saying things like, “ come on, it’s not that bad”. As if I would eat a live bug, if I was presented with one. I know there is no easy fix to america's problems, and I know that there probably won't be for a long time, but I’m hopeful.

When I watch the women's march on tv, I’m hopeful. When I watch 25 women get elected to senate, I’m hopeful, and when I see teenagers, like the parkland survivors, taking a stand, I am hopeful. I’m hopeful because I trust my american friends. I trust the people I meet in random twitter fandoms, or on Tumblr tags. These young people are the future of america and for that, I am hopeful.
So as an outsider, I see america as a country with incredible, rebellious and passionate residents, who just want what's best for them and their country. When I see that, I am inspired.