With this electoral “Highway from Hell” we are
going through this year, being a Latino becomes relevant… but not always in the
right way.
Never
before in the 54 years I have lived in this country has an election so
polarized people. For the right or wrong reasons. I am Hispanic by birth, a
naturalized US citizen, this earned after serving in the army during the VN
conflict.
In other years, I always
tried not to get involved in political discussions for, after all, it is very
rare that a point of view will be changed. If for no other reason that by
changing it you may feel you are giving in to someone who is convincing you that
what you espoused was and is wrong to begin with.
But, some
of my Hispanic friends whose view differ from mine (I am a conservative by life’s teachings and not a supporter of HRC)
are hell-bent on trying to get me to change my mind. In doing so, the basic arguments
used are:
1- He’s
abusive
2- He’s
anti Hispanics
3- Will
deport everyone
4- He
lies…
I try to
take my time and explain that I think it is better to have someone who will
bring new ideas (for the same ones will
not work tomorrow anymore that they did yesterday) than someone who has
shown repeatedly that her only interest is to grab money for herself; that the
press (usually their source, and a very
one sided Hispanic press at that) is constantly maximizing anything that
can be said against DT while minimizing or ignoring the many issues for which
HRC should be held accountable.
I also
try to argue that someone who is used to make decisions and has accomplished
much as a businessman, without being a politician, will say things that a
polished (read: someone who can shift
what he/she says acc. to need) politico would not say. I can accept this.
There are things said I do not agree with but at least I know where the guy stands.
Hard to say for someone who has shifted position several times.
And when
all else fails, the comes the “clincher” –“but you are Latino, you can’t vote
for him!!”
And here
I say:
-“You are
right, I was born in Latin American and am very proud of my heritage. However,
when I came to the US, I came to a country which opened its arms to me, gave me
a life and an opportunity to have a future, something my own country denied me.
When I became a citizen it was to embrace and further the qualities this
country offers, not to promote the failures of our own countries and replicate
them here.”
Therefore,
when I vote, I do so as a US citizen and not as a Latino. I do my best to vote
for those who represent -to my point of view- what this country should be.
Especially living in a time when outside forces are truly doing their best to
undermine everything we stand for. And those forces are very much aligned with
one of the candidates. That candidate cannot be my candidate.
God
Bless!!
Be Well … Be Back!!!
Final
Notes:
· Pray for those who are fighting an illness
which may take them away from their loved ones… Every request is heard, and
counts!!
· Follow us on Twitter … @RJAsPandora
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