Although the prospect of leaving this country if Trump gets elected may seem all too real for Muslim-Americans, it is unfair to say that one is leaving the nation simply if Donald Trump is elected, for there are Syrian Refugees who are currently escaping a dictatorship and who we are not letting into our one country— the U.S. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not trying to compare the struggle of the refugees to the struggles faced at home, many of which result from Trump’s rhetoric. I’m not trying to diminish any issues felt at home just because there are other issues elsewhere – someone’s struggle should not be less important than another’s. Instead, this article will comment on the common phrase, “if Trump gets elected, I’m moving,” and the hypocrisy of the statement. The statement gives off the idea that Americans are untouchable and can go wherever they want, whenever they want as though the world is their oyster, whereas others, such as Syrian refugees, who are in great need, beg to enter our country, we turn them away. In America’s view, they don’t have the right to escape a civil war, while Americans have the right to go wherever they please – it’s simply unfair.
In the U.S., we have Donald Trump, who threatens to number Muslims, possibly ban the religion of Islam and not let Muslims back into the nation if they leave. However, despite his outrageous, racist and ignorant claims, none of those things can legally happen – they go against the constitution. Nonetheless, it is understandable why Muslims and other Americans, too, feel that they need to leave the U.S. if Trump is elected. For some, the prospects of leaving this nation of freedom (I laugh) are all too real.
However, many other people say, “if Trump gets elected, I’m moving” simply as a joke, and just as Trump should be more cognizant of his rhetoric, I believe we should also become increasingly cognizant of our own. By making that statement as an American, one is implying not only that one is a “refugee” but also that one, as an American, can pack-up and go wherever one wants whenever one wants – the world is an American’s oyster. However, in context of the Syrian refugees, the statement is completely hypocritical. How can we possibly joke about the prospects of leaving the U.S. as “refugees” when we aren’t letting millions of Syrian refugees, who are fleeing a civil war and dictatorship, in? By joking, “if Trump gets elected, I’m moving,” we are only further highlighting our ignorance as a nation. Thus, until the U.S. willingly lets Syrian refugees into this nation and supports them, the seemingly joking “I’m moving” statement will be hypocritical, and it will continue to illustrate the American view that the world is theirs.
Despite the fact that the notion of leaving the U.S. if Trump gets elected for some Americans is real (although Trump doesn’t have the power to do what he says he will), we should try to be more cognizant of our rhetoric in terms of global issues and our American privilege. Nonetheless, I must acknowledge that I write this article as a white male; therefore, Trump’s presidency would not affect my safety, and I can't talk from the perspective of someone whose life and safety may be deeply affected if he became president.
