With the election coming up on Tuesday, I feel it’s time to finally put my input about what is going down with the election this year. Everyone I know is biting their nails, waiting for what the outcome is and many feel that either way, it’s going to be hopeless. Now, there is a lot to be said about America's fear, but I want to take a look on the side on the international kids.
As some of you know, I am American as in I do have citizenship, but I don’t consider myself American since I’ve lived most of my life in Europe and have citizenships there. So maybe I’m not the best one to be talking about this, but hey, I will if no one else does. I see a lot of these articles and I haven’t found many for the international kids, so here I am.
This election is the most twisted election I have seen in a while. On the one hand, you have Clinton, who many don’t like because of some scandals and also many believe she is a bad politician. Then you have Trump, who in my opinion is the American version of Hitler. It’s a tough choice. But for me, as an international student, it’s an easier choice.
If Trump gets elected, I think it will be the downfall of America. I think a lot of people forget that this election not only affects this country, but also the rest of the world. The entire world is watching and waiting. Many of those in Europe are even more scared because it seems that history is sort of repeating itself. Hitler got to power using fear. He was charismatic and pried on the fear and hurt of the country of Germany to get power. This is exactly what is happening with Trump, except Hitler actually had a better political background than Trump.
If you don’t believe me, look at the facts. Trump is using the fear of terrorists and gay people to sway people. He wants to have a symbol on the clothes of Muslims identifying them as such (look at how Hitler labeled the jews, as well as gay men). Trump’s VP believes in conversion camps and fully supports them (see: concentration camps). Trump perpetuates the stereotype of Mexicans taking American jobs (see: Hitler thinking Jews were taking all the jobs).
Not only that but Trump also uses stereotypes that are completely backward in thinking. He uses these to convince people that American needs “to be great again.” But really, what does that mean? It means great again for the straight cis white men. The history of this country is notoriously bad for those people of color and those of the LGBTQ+ community. And don’t even get me started on women.
It’s completely ludicrous to me that a woman would vote for Trump. Everything that comes out of his mouth about women is incredibly scary and harkens back to a day where women were not allowed to vote, speak out or do anything for themselves. Trump very much looks at women as objects, and we have fought so hard against that image. If Trump is elected, we will be set back.
Also, if Trump gets elected, many of the international students fear of getting deported. I’m technically an American citizen, yet I still fear deportation. I wasn’t born on American soil. I was born British. My fear is that if Trump gets elected, he will put into place some law about “only being American if you were born on American soil.” That is going to screw up a lot of things not only for international students but also adults who have come here to make a living and it will mess up trade as well.
I know that many people fear what will happen if Clinton gets elected. They fear the corruption and the fact that Russia says they will go to war with us. But, let's be honest, the political system in America is already corrupt, utterly and completely. I feel the worst we will get with Clinton is a bad politician, which will suck of course…but this country has survived bad and corrupt politicians before, and we made it through.
But if Trump gets elected, I fear that the entire country will crumble, just like Trump’s business endeavors. I fear things will fall apart hard and fast, and it will be the beginning of the end.
This may all seem dramatic and doom and gloom, but think about it. Worse things have happened. All I know is, this election season is completely and utterly twisted and gray. There is no correct way of dealing with this, and people have to go with their gut. But please, for the sake of the world…think hard about who you are voting for.
