Truthfully, there are so many things that could be said regarding the current state of the Union.
The political climate of the United States just seems to be getting more congested with bigotry, discrimination, racism, negativity, division and fear. You can’t scroll through social media or channel surf without encountering a handful of viral snippets detailing the latest appointments to the Presidential Cabinet (which amaze me with their level of incompetency and lack of professional knowledge) or the infringement of human rights (which are blatantly cruel and startlingly reminiscent of a fascist government). I could write about all of these things, but it’s taking me longer than I had initially expected to truly process these changes. Everything seems to be changing so quickly-- regressing rather than progressing-- and I don’t know how I am supposed to react to or feel about these changes. I don’t know if I should be feeling disbelief, or sadness, or anger, or disappointment, or fear. Maybe I’m supposed to be feeling a combination of all of these things.
The most coherent and predominant emotion I can muster at the moment is incredulity. I’m having the hardest time believing that the country I have chosen as my home has abruptly been turned upside down. I’m not willing to believe that such hateful, elitist rhetoric continues to exist in a country that has an international reputation for being accepting of all (even though internally we know that this is really not the case). I’m not willing to accept the fact that a bunch of White, middle-aged, and wealthy men have the power to determine my reproductive rights, and get to decide what I (a young, legal immigrant, and a lower middle class woman of color) can or cannot do, with my body or in this country. The fact that I had to add the word “legal” to the previous sentence out of fear is also something I am having difficulty believing, because I have never had to explain myself in this way before.
Gone are the days when I didn’t have to think about these things. Sometimes I wish I could climb into a time-traveling DeLorean and go back five, eight, ten years. That way I would only have to worry about getting good grades and staying out of trouble. I wouldn’t have to worry about being shamed and ridiculed for speaking my mother tongue in public. This has only happened a couple of times in my life, but it is one of the most embarrassing and demoralizing things I have ever experienced, and I’m honestly afraid that this will be a common occurrence from now on.
The worst part of it is that even though I am currently wary and anxious, my feelings can’t compare to the trepidation and dread of other individuals who have been marginalized and discriminated against on a daily basis. Not only am I afraid for myself, I am afraid for all of those who are unable to stand up for themselves.
Even though I am having difficulty with identifying the multiple emotions that I’m currently feeling, I do know that now more than ever I am ready and willing to fight for social justice. I am committing myself to helping all of those who are unable to fend for themselves. Love and compassion are definitely more powerful than hate and contempt. Standing united in solidarity with my peers and understanding our differences while working together to advocate for one another gives me hope for the future. Reading about the many protests and marches being organized by individuals who are willing to speak out for what’s right gives me is refreshing and revitalizing.
The next four years will not be easy, but I am not ready to give up just yet. I'm no longer staying quiet, or hoping that someone else will intervene. I’m willing to stand behind equality and humanity to protect the rights that this nation claims to promise for each and every one of us.
