Thanks for making my choice a whole lot simpler!
I stumbled upon your message in a Facebook folder I’d neglected, and against my better judgment, I read it.
“You’re a total loser. Grow up, you foreigner! Hope Trump sends you back to your country.”
This isn’t the first time I’ve encountered the “Trump will deport you” sentiment, but it still made my fists clench. I felt like I could reach through the screen and give the sender a reality check. This is my home! I was born in the Midwest and have lived here my entire life. No other place feels like home to me.
For the first time, I feel like an outsider in my own country. It doesn’t matter that my parents came to the U.S. from India legally in the 1960s. It doesn’t matter that they became U.S. citizens. It doesn’t matter that my sister and I were born here or that we grew up speaking English and wearing “Western” attire.
It doesn’t even matter that we lived in a tiny 900-square-foot townhouse in a less-than-ideal neighborhood for a decade until my parents finally saved enough to move to the suburbs. My mom dedicated her life to helping the mentally ill, and my dad focused on helping students find jobs after college. My sister and I excelled academically and became engineers. We love this country and strive for the American Dream. But to those who want me to “go back to my country,” all that matters is my name and my skin color.
And that’s what frightens me. Donald Trump has awakened a sleeping giant. His reckless rhetoric against immigrants is emboldening those who might otherwise remain quiet. A nasty message in a hidden folder could easily escalate to physical confrontation on the street.
Sure, I can already hear the protests: It’s just one message. Why make a fuss? Violence existed long before Mr. Trump entered the political arena, and he doesn’t mean what he says about immigrants—he’s just playing to his base. If elected, he wouldn’t actually follow through with any of that.
But let’s get real—this isn’t a reality TV show. Mr. Trump is campaigning for the presidency of the United States, and his words matter. If any of you are still on the fence, let me lay out a few facts for you:
- When Trump announced his candidacy on June 16, 2015, he claimed Mexico was “sending people that have lots of problems…bringing drugs, crime, and rapists.” And while some, he said, might be “good people,” his tone set the stage for a toxic atmosphere.
- On August 19, 2015, two men in Boston brutally attacked a homeless person, justifying their actions by saying “Donald Trump is right. All these illegals need to be deported.”
- On September 27, 2015, during an interview, Trump said he would deport more than 11 million undocumented immigrants in a “humane way.”
- Then, during the fourth GOP debate in November 2015, he praised a historically brutal deportation program from the 1950s called “Operation Wetback,” which resulted in the inhumane treatment of countless immigrants.
- Fast forward to February 1, 2016, where at a rally in Iowa, he encouraged people to “knock the crap” out of any protesters, promising to cover their legal fees.
- And let’s not forget a disturbing incident on April 21, 2016, where a woman wearing a hijab was verbally assaulted and threatened with violence by a stranger who declared her support for Trump’s anti-immigrant sentiments.
So, to the Trump supporter who sent that message, thank you. You made it clear that I cannot remain undecided any longer. I spent so many nights deliberating on whom to support in this election, but your note highlighted Mr. Trump’s pattern of dehumanizing immigrants and inciting violence. If I hadn’t seen your message, I might have considered voting for a third-party candidate or even downplaying the risks of a Trump presidency. Instead, I’m now firmly committed to my choice.
For those of you interested in more discussions on home insemination, feel free to check out this insightful post here.
In summary, your words have clarified my position in a crucial moment, reinforcing the importance of standing against divisive rhetoric.
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