I work in a public school in Middle Tennessee. My office is in the front office.
Turning the corner on Friday, I ran into three of my coworkers talking about the elections. Demographically, they are three white women, two in their 40’s, one in her 60’s.
One of them was encouraging the other two to vote, stressing how important it is, no matter what. Wait, I know what you’re thinking, let me finish.
She was saying that even though there is no way Hillary would carry Tennessee, they are obligated to vote, just so that their voice counts, even if only a little bit. Wait, let me finish.
She was saying that they need to go vote for Donald Trump, even though this election is probably going to be stolen by minorities. I’m paraphrasing a little bit. She said that people coming to our country are taking over, taking it away from those who fought for it and those who continue to fight for it. Those coloreds, those Muslims, taking it away from Real Americans ™.
I don’t usually engage in political discussions at work, because I am fully aware that I am so far left of center that they wouldn’t know what to do with me. But I had to. Again, paraphrasing. It was sort of like verbal diarrhea, I’m not sure what all came out, but it went something like this.
They Are America. Those non-white people, those from different countries, moving here for the opportunity that we provide, That. Is. America. They might not have had that chance where they came from. They might not have had a vote where they came from. They have it here.
America is not a white country. We are white, black, Hispanic/Latino, Arabic, Native American, Asian, multi-racial, and so on.
America is not a Christian country. We are Christian, Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim, Atheist, non-denominational, and so on.
Yes, you need to vote, because your vote counts, but it counts just as much as that black woman from Georgia’s vote, just as much as that Muslim man from Virginia’s vote, just as much as that white pot smoker from Colorado’s vote, just as much as that Hispanic woman from California’s vote. They all count, and they all count the same. That’s the way we do things here.
…
I understand and certainly agree that it is important for everybody to vote, and I would not discourage someone from voting just because I disagree with their vote. I did not attempt to engage these women as many of you probably think I should (How can you, as women, vote for a sexual predator like Trump, instead of a woman who fights for the rights of everyone?) I know better. If you grew up in a solid red state, you would understand, too. That’s not the point, anyway.
The narrative is not the minorities stealing the election from the majority, the fear is that the opposite still may occur. Many things have been stolen from minorities in this country. This election cannot be one of them.