My name is Gary Reilly and I'm not an American.
In truth, that statement alone should ensure that I shut the hell up, sit back and gawk with all the lurid fascination of a car crash in progress.
But please just humor me for a moment.
Unfortunately, as American citizens, one of the few rights you can't claim is to go about your democratic process free from pathetic attempts at interference from someone with a Facebook account in Ireland.
LIVE BLOG: Election Day 2016 for the Irish in America
It may seem unfair but instead of that right, you have a responsibility. You live in a country that, over the past 240 years, has built itself brick by brick to become this planet's defining political force. To borrow an old phrase from American politics, 'As America goes, so goes the world'.
Rather than the right of an election free from outside influence, you have the responsibility to consider how your vote influences the outside.
I'm not appealing to Trump voters here, it's far too late for that. I'm appealing to those of you who are being bombarded with the 'Hillary's a liar', 'won't somebody think of the emails' hyperbole of the past couple of weeks. I'm appealing to those of you who are considering a write in candidate or even those who won't vote at all. If ever there was a time for siding with the 'least worst option' this is it. If you believe Hillary is not the best person to lead your country then I would dearly love you to answer the question, would the world be a better place with Trump as POTUS?
If the answer to that is no, your only real option to stop it from happening is Hillary. You may bemoan that choice (or lack thereof) but the reality of choosing not to vote in a two-party system is that you empower fundamentalism on both sides. As someone who is not clouded by personality or propaganda, it's up to you to make a choice between which of the two realistic options is better.
In truth, even if Trump wins, America's system of governance would likely put the breaks on before he can do any real damage. It's the ripple effect that's most worrying. It's the fact that America being seen to back Trump's hate-speech gives awesome power to the increasingly popular far-right in countries like Britain and France. Nigel Farage and UKIP, the staunchly anti-migrant element of Britain's Conservative Party, Marine Le Pen and Front National. A vote for Trump is a vote to allow them to ramp up their racist rhetoric and promote an 'us versus them' campaign as if that's a perfectly acceptable way to see the world in the 21st century.
Even away from international politics, can you imagine what America endorsing Trump would do for misogyny across the world?
IN HIS OWN VOICE: Trump's history of misogyny, sexism, and harassment. pic.twitter.com/FJTuWM7d2g
— Right Wing Talk (@RWTQuotes) November 8, 2016
Read more: A guide on moving to Ireland in case Donald Trump is elected
Let's say we ignore the sexual assaults that he's yet to be convicted of. Even just the thought of American voters accepting Trump's 'locker room talk' gives free reign to misogynists the world over to continue unchecked and uninterrupted. One of their own is in the highest office imaginable, the ultimate proof that, regardless of their Neanderthal views, there'll never be any repercussions.
For those of you who have made it this far and are questioning why an ignorant Irishman even has the ability to reach you to try and influence your vote, that's a valid point. You're probably best to send your concerns to Mark Zuckerberg, Sheryl Sandberg and anyone else who has made social media the world power that it is today.
For those of you who are not yet at the point of despising everything that I've said, I have one last favor to ask. If you're undecided, or you're thinking of voting third party or write in, then please consider (however small a consideration that might be) the vote to halt the march to the right that so many of us across the world would make if we could.
Much like peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, Donald Trump’s appeal seems limited to America https://t.co/uAXHDr4v47 pic.twitter.com/hJUaaSLvio
— The Economist (@TheEconomist) November 8, 2016
* Gary Reilly is a small businessman who owns a tourism business primarily aimed at Irish Americans, yourwayireland.com.
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