Trump and Friends: This is Our Country, and We’re Not Going Anywhere

“Get out of my country.” That’s what Jorge Ramos was told outside the press conference  Trump kicked him out of. I’ve been hearing and seeing all the crazy things that Trump has been saying and I’ve just dismissed him as rude and offensive. But this man who blurted who said “Get out of my country” was not some billionaire trying to make headlines or stir the pot. This man represents the average Joe. There are thousands of people that think like him and maybe before they kept their mouth shut and didn’t make hateful remarks but now Trump has made it OK to express their hate and bigotry.

This video brought tears to my eyes.  I imagined how I would feel if someone blurted that to me. The encounter only got worse when Mr. Ramos said “I am a U.S. Citizen” and the man said “Univision? I don’t think so.”

I grew up watching Univision. And I am a U.S. Citizen. This IS MY COUNTRY and I’m not going anywhere.

TRUMP has made it OK to call a whole nation of people criminals and rapists. He’s made it acceptable to be a bully, to be condescending and to speak down to women… apparently bigotry and misogyny are in style– and the person leading the pack is someone who is running to be the President of my country.

I’m angry. I’m angry because this makes me NOT proud to be an American. America was founded by people fleeing persecution and religious oppression… people have come to America to build their lives through hard work. Since the early days of our nation, people have come looking for a better future. And yet people like that man think that this country, and the promise of America taking in the huddled masses, is reserved for people of a certain skin color or who speak a certain language.

I’m angry because Trump has taken millions of hardworking people and reduced them to criminals and rapists.

I’m angry because I don’t ever want my son to hear the words “Get out of my country.” Because it’s his country too.

I dismissed Trump as someone who just wanted to waste our time… but look what is happening… average Americans are listening to him and being influenced by his ignorant, misogynistic and racist views. They are starting to think it’s OK to say “Get out of my country.”

I never thought that I’d have to worry about someone telling my son that he’s not American enough or that he should “go back to his country” if they heard him speaking Spanish and honestly… I think about that now.

I’m a half glass full person so I try to see the positive in every situation. Trump with his racist comments has put immigration front and center. Anyone with half a brain would realize that deporting 11 million people is not viable. Immigrants do the work native-born don’t want to do. Immigrants have revitalized entire cities. And, it has to be said, because so many people are misinformed– undocumented immigrants are NOT leeching off the system—they don’t have access to government benefits which is what Conservatives (falsely) claim.

Maybe we needed to hear the hate and bigotry in order to act. Every year, 800,000 Latinos turn 18 and as it has been explained, no party can win without the Hispanic vote.   So maybe we should let Donald keep talking caca, let him divide and ruin the Republican party, let him run as an Independent… meanwhile, we have to get to the polls and support candidates that support us. We must let Trump and his supporters  know, this is our country and we’re not going anywhere. 

photo credit: american flag via photopin (license)