I just saw a study that I want to come right out and comment on as soon as possible.

It ranked, from fewest grammatical mistakes to most grammatical mistakes (per 100 words) the supporters of the Presidential candidates.

I’m a Bernie Sanders supporter. Sanders came in third, higher than his main contender, Hillary Clinton, who came in fifth.

I’m also a Democrat, and all the Democrats scored higher than all the Republicans.

I’m also very, very, anti-Trump. In fact, once I nearly went full-Godwin on him.

So I’m not trying to score points in politics.

Nor am I complaining about this because I’m terrible when it comes to grammar. I have an MA in English and am currently working on a doctorate in the field. I’ve also taught several semesters of college composition.

I’m complaining about this because my current day job consists of helping graduate students in the health sciences write. And English is the second language for many of them. Others focused on biology so much that the more abstract world of words received less attention.

So…I’ve been doing this for a couple years. And over this time, I’ve developed a deep respect for those who struggle with English — both those who are ESL learners and those who aren’t. I don’t just help second-language learners, but also people who may not have had the highest quality education. Most of the people I help with grammar are far more intelligent when it comes to medical policy than I’ll ever be. They could make fun of my lack of medical terminology till the cows come home. So I’ve learned to show some deep respect. I absolutely think someone of their intelligence should be able to vote.

(Edit: Somehow, in spite of attempts to the contrary, people have thought I’m only talking about ESL learners. In case it’s not obvious, I’m not — the conversation goes beyond that. Keep reading.)

I’ve also worked as a waiter with several minimum wage earners who couldn’t write “proper” English. But I know that they have concerns, goals, and ideologies borne out of their experiences, and that these ideologies contribute to the overall portrait of America.

They have a right to vote and be heard. I may be passionate about making sure they are informed, but when it comes to the voting booth I think we should focus on their experiences and contribution as fellow Americans, not on whether they’re able to put contractions in the right places.

I’ve also volunteered for political campaigns. And I know, from talking on the phones with people in these campaigns, that sometimes people don’t really know about politics and aren’t very educated on “the issues” because they’re working two or three jobs trying to provide for their families. They don’t have time to watch the news or keep up with the headlines. But they have very real concerns and contribute to society, arguably, more than I do. They deserve to have their voices heard.

And, finally, I’m black. It wasn’t too long ago when most blacks in the South, where I live, were barred from voting because they weren’t, supposedly, smart enough. Even today, you hear FOX “News” demeaning black individuals’ education as they cater to the prejudiced in their audiences.

My biggest fear is that this revelation that Trump supporters struggle with grammar will prompt Democrats and other liberals to demean those who struggle with grammar. This can’t happen. Many Republicans already demean people who supposedly don’t know their English well enough, and one of the reasons I’ve been proud to be a Democrat is that we’ve been in the business of standing up for these hard working Americans, making sure they have a voice and that we’re working in their best interests within this society.

Let’s keep doing that. Let’s not let our sense of partisanship ruin our values and prompt us to stop fighting for the most marginalized and struggling in this country.

Thanks for reading.