The lives of immigrants are on the ballot this November. Sitting out is a costly choice.
Despite Biden’s lack of pressure on Netanyahu in Gaza, his opponent remains far more dangerous than he is.
At a rally in Ohio over the weekend, in the middle of a largely incoherent rant, Donald Trump fired up his base in the usual way: by vilifying immigrants. He called them “snakes” and “animals”, and when pressed on his choice of words—given their use by Hitler and Mussolini—Trump doubled down.
That language cuts me to the quick. I am a child of immigrants, and I have young children. Dealing with covert racism has been difficult enough; Trump’s proud bigotry is downright frightening. And it isn’t just rhetoric. Trump’s gutting of immigration policy, his Muslim ban of 2017, and placing children in cages at the Mexican border, have already proven this.
His rhetoric emboldens followers to commit acts of violence. It normalizes hatred of the other. The rise of hate crimes in the U.S. is directly proportional to support for Trump. That is: in counties where he won, hate crimes increased.
I spoke recently with a woman who is currently applying for citizenship. Her lack of citizenship makes her life hard, and the prospect of another Trump term is devastating. For her, the results of the election in November have very real consequences. We need to pay attention to what’s at stake here.
Like many of my peers, I am disappointed in the Biden Administration, mainly because of its refusal to cut off Netanyahu, despite his brutal treatment of Gazans. I want Biden to apply more pressure—and am beginning to feel hopeful that the tide is indeed turning. For example, Biden has endorsed Senator Chuck Schumer’s call for new elections in Israel, and has called Netanyahu “ an obstacle for peace.”
I do believe pressure from activists and even those who voted “uncommitted” is changing the course for Biden and for Gaza. And I will continue to do my part.
But make no mistake, Biden’s opponent would be far worse for Gaza. Netanyahu recently reaffirmed his support for Trump. What I’m emphasizing here is that Trump would also be worse for immigrants to the U.S., as well as for queer people, poor folks, and virtually every other minority. We have already seen how his judges were able to turn back the clock and criminalize women and their doctors for terminating a pregnancy. Thus, despite Biden’s weaknesses, tacitly supporting Trump by not voting for Biden is extremely dangerous. We can tell Biden that he must do better without supporting an opponent who is emulating the most evil demagogues of our time.
As it turns out, most Americans say they will vote for Biden mainly in order to oppose Trump. That’s a morally acceptable decision. But there are millions of voters who are also aware of Biden’s accomplishments. Indeed, the number of people who signed up for the Affordable Care Act surged to 21 million under Biden, meaning that more Americans are insured now than ever in our history. Unemployment is at a record low, and the recession predicted by many economists didn’t happen. No other President has launched a program to forgive student debt–or medical debt. His administration also includes a record number of minority members. Some feel that he campaigned like a moderate, but in many ways, is the most progressive president of my life.
That does not, in any way, mean we should avoid naming the problems we have with Biden, on the contrary, we should encourage the Biden to be the strongest candidate he can be in our eyes, but I’m not willing to forfeit my influence by not participating at all. The candidates have already clinched their nomination, and there are two choices before us, I know which one will be better for the least among us.
I’ve never voted for a president who was perfect. I don’t expect that to change. But if an airline should decide to offer me the choice of a dry chicken breast or a plate of broken glass for dinner, my choice would not be difficult.
It’s essential that we follow our conscience in voting, and mine is much more deeply disturbed by Trump, that it is by supporting his opponent. As Joe Biden has said: “Don’t compare me to the Almighty, but to the alternative.”
One more thing: I am deeply ashamed that Trump continues to enjoy most of his support from Evangelicals, i.e. people who call themselves Christians. I may never know why they support him. I fear it’s not despite Trump’s anti-immigrant stance, but because of it. Let’s remember that when Jesus was asked: “Who is my neighbor?” he told the parable of the Good Samaritan. The biblical and Christian call to love one’s neighbor, including the immigrant, is fundamental to the Gospel. So to support a candidate who calls people like me snakes and animals, regardless of the size of his roaring crowds, is utterly antithetical to our faith. Simply put: it is not the way of Jesus.
I don’t expect to change the minds of those who support him. But I hope my plea against him will help those who are ambivalent and those who are troubled by Biden’s policies to see that there is a graver threat before us.