Leaving a Mark: The Alexander Hamilton Society hosts discussion on how U.S. elections impact decisions “Beyond the Borders” of our nation

By Madison Dyer

In the wake of the presidential election, The Alexander Hamilton Society decided to host a formal discussion on the global impact of United States presidential elections. Titled “Beyond Borders”, the event featured Dr. Mark Caleb Smith, dean of the School of Arts and Humanities at Cedarville University, and Ambassador Kelly Currie, US representative to the United Nations. 

The Alexander Hamilton Society is a national, nonprofit organization which exists to inform young people about foreign policy. They hold the belief that the United States possesses a strong influence in the realm of global policy, and that the nation should be actively promoting democracy and free market values across the world. 

During the course of the event, Smith guided the discussion by presenting various questions to Currie, whose responses were based on what she had observed during her various services in the federal government. Overall, she said that the world is still recovering from the events of the Cold War, and that a lot of foreign affairs have fallen into disarray.

In the last 30 minutes, the floor was opened for a Q&A session, during which one individual, Elijah Sager, a freshman cyber operations major, asked Currie how Christian students could make an impact on the health of the country from their local setting. Her response encouraged people to get involved with their immediate surroundings and focus on what they can control.

“I want us all focusing on our communities,” Carrie said. “I want us to have the luxury of apolitical lives, of not having to worry and stress about politics all the time.”

This was an excellent close to an informative evening. The Alexander Hamilton society fulfilled their goal of informing students about foreign policy. Molly Allen in particular, a freshman worship major, reported that the event clearly communicated the importance of global interactions. 

“The foreign policy of candidates is extremely important as it could affect the state of the world for years to come,” Allen said. “This can be regarding the length and ending of wars, the advocacy of human rights, and the economy of the globe.” 

For those who want to learn more, Carrie recommended three excellent books, which she says are informative as well as relatively easy reads: The Splendid and the Vile: A Saga of Churchill, Family, and Defiance During the Blitz, by Erik Larson; A World Made New: Eleanor Roosevelt and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, by Mary Ann Glendon; The China Fantasy: How Our Leaders Explain Away Chinese Repression, by James Mann. 

More information can be found at alexanderhamiltonsociety.org, including the organization’s different university chapters, involvement opportunities, and event updates.

Madison Dyer is a Freshman Professional Writing and Information Design student, who grew up in the nearby city of Xenia but now lives with her family just within the Cedarville Township limit! In between various seasonal obsessions, she enjoys drawing fictional characters, playing guitar, and engaging in general shenanigans

*Photo taken by Madison Dyer