Olivia Vest
Lantern Staff
As we woke up on the morning of Wednesday, Nov. 9 to the news that Donald Trump was named our president-elect, I remember having a conversation with my sister. She spoke mainly in fear, which were thoughts I truly shared.
Then I spoke to my brother, whose feelings were rooted in pride that our country had made the “right choice.” I respect his educated opinion, just as I respect my sister’s incredibly different (and still intelligent) thoughts. But as I told him and other Trump supporters that I feared for myself and for my peers, I was met with confusion and a dash of judgment. And that’s ok, because not every opinion can be mutually understood.
One thing I was and am often asked is where my fear originates. Mainly, it lies in the realm of civil rights. We have many friends who are people of color. Incredibly kind Muslim men and women walk the grounds of our college. We are very close to numerous LGBTQ+ community members. And, as women, we even began to fear for our own rights under the ruling of Trump and his running mate, Mike Pence. This is where our fear is rooted, in the thought that our safety could be jeopardized for the sake of “making America great again.”
I want to start a conversation about Trump’s actual plans as president-elect and how they may impact civil rights. In order to do so, I’ve referred greatly to his website, where the main topics featured are indeed the wall– that magical, mystical wall– and, not surprisingly, other key components of most conservative candidates’ platforms. These range from the (in my opinion, rightful) protection of the Second Amendment to tax reduction for us all. Additionally, I’ve referred to various debates and speeches for direct quotes from the big man himself. From these, I’ve compiled just a few components of his platform, information of which I feel we should all be made aware.
Why do I fear for people of color and Hispanic immigrants? Mainly, this is a logistical point. According to Trump’s website, groundbreaking for his wall will take place on his first day in office. (For reference, that is Friday, Jan. 20, 2017.)
What’s so bad about the wall? Well, according to past statements made by Trump, the wall will cost anywhere from eight to 12 billion dollars. According to Trump’s website, every cent will be provided by Mexico. That doesn’t sound like a bad deal, except for the fact that Mexico’s President Enrique Peña Nieto has specifically stated that he, nor his country, will pay a dime for the wall. (If you don’t believe me, he even Tweeted it on Wednesday, Aug. 31.)
Aside from the wall, which is a bizarre thought in and of itself, can we take a quick look at statements Trump has made about Latinos? The future president’s Twitter is chock-full of criticism against a variety of demographics. On May 21, he referred to Hispanic protesters outside of a speech as thugs and criminals. In his first speech as a presidential candidate, he called Mexican immigrants rapists and criminals.
When journalist Megyn Kelly “provoked” Trump during a debate in August, he tweeted that she was a bimbo (Sunday, Aug. 7). On Friday, Sept. 30, when Trump took to the Twitter platform yet again, he referred to former Miss Universe Alicia Machado as “disgusting.” He’s referred to women as Miss Piggy.
In a video resurfacing from 1992, he looked at a 10-year-old girl and said he would date her in 10 years. In other videos leaked from throughout the 2000s, Trump has said things like the infamous “Grab them by the pussy,” and worse, in reference to forcing himself on women. In more recent statements, he apologized for the “locker room talk” and to those he had offended.
Why do I fear for women? Reread the above quotes. This man is representing our country and our women.
According to Trump’s website, he will completely repeal Obamacare. The Affordable Care Act provides many things for women’s health, ranging from low-cost birth control to lower deductibles on certain screenings. Trump’s past statements on punishments for women and doctors performing abortions make this a scary thought, as the Affordable Care Act has greatly contributed to a major drop in abortions– because of its easy access to family planning.
Why do I fear for LGBTQ+ rights? Although Trump has made many statements in the past about his opposition of marriage equality, he recently held the Pride flag high…. Hmm. Maybe he’s a changed man. However, Mike Pence, our future vice president, has diverted funding towards conversion and electroshock therapy (according to Politifact). He also essentially defunded Planned Parenthood in the state of Indiana and led to the closing of an HIV testing clinic. This led to a “historic” HIV outbreak in the state (according to quite a few resources including USA Today).
Go to Trump’s website and read his 100 day plan. Become aware of the issues. Whatever you do, keep an open mind and please try to understand the fear felt by many demographics in our nation right now. It’s real and it’s valid, and it won’t go away any time soon if we aren’t proactive. Love your neighbors and love yourself. Fight for civil rights and fight for our nation’s liberties.