Earlier today, I stumbled upon a message tucked away in a seldom-checked folder on social media. Against my better judgment, I clicked on it.
“You’re just a loser. Grow up, you foreigner! Hope the administration sends you back to where you came from.”
This isn’t the first time I’ve received a message suggesting I should leave the country. Yet, each time, it sends a wave of frustration through me. I want 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. No other place feels like home.
For the first time in my life, I’m experiencing the feeling of alienation in my own country. My parents immigrated legally from India in the 1960s, eventually becoming citizens. My sister and I were born here, growing up in a modest townhouse before our family finally moved to a better neighborhood. My mother dedicated her life to helping those with mental illness, and my father worked tirelessly to assist students in finding jobs. My sister and I both excelled academically and became engineers. We have always loved this country and aspired to achieve the American Dream. Yet, all that seems irrelevant to those who want to tell me to “go back to my country” simply because of my name and skin color.
And that’s what’s truly frightening. The current administration has emboldened those who harbor xenophobic sentiments. Their rhetoric has provoked individuals who might otherwise remain silent to take action—sometimes violent. A message like the one I received could escalate into something much worse.
I can hear the counterarguments already: “It’s just a single message. Why make a fuss? Violence existed before the administration came to power. They don’t mean what they say about immigrants. They’re just playing to their base.”
But this isn’t a reality show. The individual in charge is running for the highest office in the land, and their words influence supporters and resonate globally. For those still undecided, consider a few facts:
- On June 16, 2015, I watched as the current leader announced their candidacy. They claimed that Mexico was “sending people with problems,” labeling them as drug dealers, criminals, and rapists.
- By August 19, 2015, two men in Boston assaulted a homeless individual with a lead pipe, justifying their actions by claiming, “The administration is right. All these illegals need to be deported.”
- In a 60 Minutes interview on September 27, 2015, the same leader expressed intentions to deport over 11 million undocumented immigrants “in a very humane way.”
- During a GOP debate in November 2015, they praised a notorious deportation program from the 1950s, known for its inhumane treatment of individuals.
- On November 19, 2015, the leader indicated a desire to create a database to track Muslims, asserting, “They have to be.”
- And on February 1, 2016, at a rally, they encouraged attendees to “knock the crap” out of any protesters, promising to cover their legal fees.
Given these events, thank you to the supporter who sent me that message. It clarified my stance. I spent countless nights deliberating over my electoral choice. That note opened my eyes to the leader’s pattern of dehumanizing immigrants, making it clear that I could not support such a campaign. Your message pushed me off the fence and into a decision, prompting me to align with values I hold dear.
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In summary, the current political climate has made many feel unwelcome in their own land, and the rhetoric from the top has only served to amplify these sentiments. It is crucial to recognize the impact of words and the importance of standing up against hate.