Recently, America took a disturbing turn for the worse. We elected a homophobic, xenophobic man who brags about sexually assaulting women.

It’s embarrassing, really.

Although I am against everything Trump stands for, I’m only going to take the time to talk about one piece of his politics in particular - immigration.

As an English Education major, I’ve had the opportunity to read many personal narratives written by classmates who are new to America. They come from war-torn countries and many of their homes were invaded by men with guns. Some were taken from their families at a young age, held for ransom and spent nights homeless on the street.

It’s easy for a lot of people in America, who live in houses with many rooms, surrounded by friendly neighbors, to hide behind their TVs and not realize the truth behind the horrors they hear about other countries.

But, if these people took a step outside their comfort zone — maybe talked with an immigrant about their story — they might start to think differently about immigration.

The truth is: we walk by people who have backgrounds that we would cringe at on a daily basis. These people are kids that pass your children at school every day. They are the person standing behind you in line at Hornbacher’s. They are friends, neighbors, coworkers.

Now, I’m not saying that illegal immigration isn’t an issue. But is it as big of an issue as people seem to think? Both immigrants and illegal immigrants contribute to society, they pay taxes, they build homes. There is no need for a wall and to deport illegal immigrants back to poor living conditions, and a life filled with fear, often splitting up families, would be an unjust punishment for any human being.

Would you want that for your family? Would you want that for your friends? I’m willing to bet that if you knew what went on in the streets of Mexico or how it felt to return, once again, to a life of poverty, you wouldn’t wish that on anyone.

Next, and let me make this perfectly clear, not all Muslims want to hurt you — not even a fraction of Muslims. In fact, the majority of them live in peace among others from all different religions on American soil.

To be afraid of a group of people who contribute so much to the country we call home and to treat them with disrespect is ignorant and hurtful.

Further, stopping a group of people from entering our country simply because they are Muslim is religious discrimination, and would not only stop the men from entering our country, but women and children, as well — women and children who might desperately need to come to America, who might be scared, who might be running from a threat unknown to us.

So I’m talking to you, Donald Trump, when I say that a human heart is necessary to lead a country like America. And if we can’t accept people with all different religions and backgrounds, we can no longer claim to be the greatest country in the world.