The message sat tucked away in a Facebook folder I rarely checked. Against my better judgment, I opened it.
“You’re seriously a loser. Grow up, you filthy foreigner! Hope Trump sends you back to your country.”
While this wasn’t my first encounter with the sentiment of “go back to your country,” it still made my fists clench. I wanted to reach through the screen and shake some sense into the sender. This is my home. I was born in the Midwest and have lived here my entire life. There’s nowhere else I belong.
For the first time, I find myself feeling like an outsider in my own nation. My parents legally emigrated from India in the 1960s, and they became U.S. citizens. My sister and I are American-born. We’ve assimilated by speaking English and wearing Western attire. We lived in a small, 900-square-foot townhouse in a low-income neighborhood for a decade before my parents could afford to buy a home in the suburbs.
My mother dedicated her life to mental health, and my father helped students find jobs after college. My sister and I excelled academically and became engineers. We love this country and strive for the American Dream. Yet, to those who wish I would “go back,” all that matters is my name and skin color.
That’s what frightens me. Donald Trump has awakened a dormant hostility. His careless remarks about immigrants embolden xenophobes to act violently. A hateful message in a Facebook folder could easily escalate to a physical confrontation in public.
I can already hear the rebuttals: “It’s just one message. What’s the big deal? Violence existed before Trump.” They might argue that Trump is merely a salesman catering to his conservative base, claiming he wouldn’t actually follow through on his words if elected.
But this isn’t a reality TV show. Trump is campaigning for the highest office in the land. His words have resonance among his supporters and beyond. If you’re still unsure about your choice, consider these facts:
Key Moments in Trump’s Campaign
- On June 16, 2015, I watched Donald Trump announce his candidacy. He claimed Mexico was “sending people that have lots of problems… They’re bringing drugs, crime, and rapists. And some, I assume, are good people.”
- On August 19, 2015, two men in Boston attacked a homeless man with a lead pipe, justifying their actions with Trump’s words: “Donald Trump is right. All these illegals need to be deported.”
- Later, in a 60 Minutes interview on September 27, 2015, Trump stated he would deport over 11 million undocumented immigrants “in a very humane way.”
- During the fourth GOP debate on November 10, 2015, he nostalgically praised a past military operation that forcibly deported immigrants, known as “Operation Wetback,” which resulted in countless human rights violations.
- On November 19, 2015, he endorsed the creation of a database to track Muslims, saying, “They have to be.”
- At a rally on February 1, 2016, he encouraged supporters to “knock the crap” out of protesters, even offering to cover their legal fees.
- On April 21, 2016, a Muslim woman was verbally attacked outside a Starbucks by someone who threatened her with violence, all in the spirit of supporting Trump.
So, to the Trump supporter who sent me that message, I owe you my gratitude. Your words crystallized my thoughts as I deliberated over whom to support in the approaching election. If not for your note, I might have overlooked Trump’s pattern of dehumanizing immigrants and inciting violence. I could have easily considered a third-party candidate or dismissed the looming threat of a Trump presidency. Your message propelled me from uncertainty to a definitive choice. #ImWithHer
If you’re interested in further insights on related topics, check out this post on Cervical Insemination. And for those considering home insemination, BabyMaker offers reliable syringe kits. Additionally, American Pregnancy provides excellent resources for understanding donor insemination.
In summary, the hateful rhetoric surrounding this election has forced many, including myself, to confront and clarify our beliefs and choices.
Leave a Reply