From Personal Pain to Political Power

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When	Why
Oct-31-24	Wording change
Oct-31-24	Wording change
Nov-01-24	My Image 2

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In the upcoming month, voters will flock to polls to express their values through the right to vote. This election may be one of the most crucial in history, highlighted by recent Vice Presidential vice presidential and Presidential presidential debates, where candidates’ views sharply contrasted. Two significant debates occurred: one between VP candidates Vance and Walz and the other between Presidential presidential candidates Harris and Trump. These debates prompted me to analyze my perspectives and delve deeper into my thoughts. Immigration, racial discrimination, and climate change are issues that are most critical to me.

In the upcoming month, voters will flock to polls to express their values through the right to vote. This election may be one of the most crucial in history, highlighted by recent vice presidential and presidential debates, where candidates’ views sharply contrasted. Two significant debates occurred: one between VP candidates Vance and Walz and the other between presidential candidates Harris and Trump. These debates prompted me to analyze my perspectives and delve deeper into my thoughts. Immigration, racial discrimination, and climate change are issues that are most critical to me.

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As a daughter of an immigrant from the Philippines, a first-generation Filipino American, I felt deep anger when Trump and Vance referred to immigrants as “aliens.” This term is dehumanizing as it suggests non-US citizens to be inferior, reinforcing ideologies of U.S. exceptionalism. When Trump was first elected in 2016, I felt isolated in my predominantly white middle school. Many didn’t understand while they sat comfortably at home, my mother feared she would be separated from me. Similarly, racial discrimination is another vital issue for me in this election. During the Presidential Debatepresidential debate, I commented on Trump stating, “He has the nerve to try and target Black and Brown people in his speeches.” Trump often tries to appeal to BIPOC voters by claiming that “aliens” are taking their jobs. However, despite his denials, he has justified incarcerating the Central Park Five, made derogatory comments about Haitian immigrants, labeling Mexicans as “rapists” who “bring crime” to the US, all testaments to his racism. During the Presidential presidential debate, I recall ruminating on the fact that many BIPOC still chose to support him, which would have adverse effects on BIPOC communities. Yet, even with Trump being a terrible candidate, VP Harris is not perfect either. Climate change is also a fundamental issue for me, yet neither party adequately addressed it. I am increasingly concerned with the climate crisis looming while the climate clock ticks down to just four years until potentially irreversible changes. Climate change‘s impact became a tangible issue for me during natural disasters as well as unprecedented environmental shifts, such as Antarctica turning green. Climate change is a serious topic that is shifting all of our lives.

As a daughter of an immigrant from the Philippines, a first-generation Filipino American, I felt deep anger when Trump and Vance referred to immigrants as “aliens.” This term is dehumanizing as it suggests non-US citizens to be inferior, reinforcing ideologies of U.S. exceptionalism. When Trump was first elected in 2016, I felt isolated in my predominantly white middle school. Many didn’t understand while they sat comfortably at home, my mother feared she would be separated from me. Similarly, racial discrimination is another vital issue for me in this election. During the presidential debate, I commented on Trump stating, “He has the nerve to try and target Black and Brown people in his speeches.” Trump often tries to appeal to BIPOC voters by claiming that “aliens” are taking their jobs. However, despite his denials, he has justified incarcerating the Central Park Five, made derogatory comments about Haitian immigrants, labeling Mexicans as “rapists” who “bring crime” to the US, all testaments to his racism. During the presidential debate, I recall ruminating on the fact that many BIPOC still chose to support him, which would have adverse effects on BIPOC communities. Yet, even with Trump being a terrible candidate, VP Harris is not perfect either. Climate change is also a fundamental issue for me, yet neither party adequately addressed it. I am increasingly concerned with the climate crisis looming while the climate clock ticks down to just four years until potentially irreversible changes. Climate change‘s impact became a tangible issue for me during natural disasters as well as unprecedented environmental shifts, such as Antarctica turning green. Climate change is a serious topic that is shifting all of our lives.

Reflecting on critical topics in this upcoming election—climate change, immigration, as well as racial discrimination—I recognize how these issues resonate deeply with my values. They have shaped my life, impacting future generations. Despite feeling helpless, I still pick up my pen to write. My writing, including poetry as Youth Poet Laureate, as well as my WPEB Radio Show, “Nay, Watchu Cooking,” has been my voice to enact social change regarding these issues. I often question how much change we could enact if the masses rose to share their voice. Each voice matters. My voice matters.

DMU Timestamp: October 30, 2024 20:08

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