Is Designated Survivor clearing the way for an Independent Party president?

Kiefer Sutherland’s character, Tom Kirkman, in Designated Survivor, in so many ways, seems to depict what we all want in a President of The United States. Is it possible that Sutherland’s depiction of an Independent President is actually blazing the trail for one in the U.S. political scene?

In the show, he truly is everyone’s president. And in these divisive times, it’s so refreshing to see that sort of leadership on display, even if it’s just on a tv show right now. But I can’t help but wonder — would it be possible for such a scenario to play out in real life?

Our candidates, when they’re out on the campaign trail, always seem to give us a sort of hope that maybe working across the aisle is actually possible. And we badly want to believe them; but as time goes on, it seems that it just never happens.

However, in spite of our history of opposing one another, I believe that beneath our strong opinions, there is a deep desire we have, as human beings, to live in harmony with one another — to live in true love and unity as The United States and not the divided states of America.

And watching Sutherland on the screen keeping his composure while he continuously works to find common ground with anyone he comes in contact with gives me hope that maybe… just maybe, that could come to pass.

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Watching the show is almost therapeutic in that sense. When I scroll through Facebook, I become saddened by the amount of hatred people spew out on other human beings simply because they don’t agree with something.

When you take a close look at our nation, that vehement disagreement starts at the top — in our political system. Does Washington seem like a harmonious place to you? It doesn’t to me — and those are our elected representatives duking it out over basically… everything.

But this is where I have to check myself… because am I any better if I’m complaining about them? No, I’m not. And honestly, none of us are perfect. And I think that might be where our nations’ healing begins — when we realize we are all imperfect, and when we try to understand each other and put ourselves in the shoes of others.

That is precisely what we see Sutherland’s character, Tom Kirkman, doing repeatedly in the show. He always strives to understand others. Maybe we should do the same.

I know that in we are spitfires in the U.S.A. We are fighters, and we are scrappy. But if we don’t learn how to love each other, we have missed the point of life entirely.

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So would it be possible? Seeing a leader like that take the office of President of The United States? Could a scenario like that become more than just a fairy tale in a tv show? Time will tell, but I’ve had enough of this arguing. It’s time we work together.