- MARIA N. DINGCONG
In just a few days, President-Elect Joe Biden will be sworn in as the new president of the United States. This was an election that he and his vice president won fair and square. Just saying.
Before the Nov. 3 elections, I received my fair share of social media invitations to join exclusive groups supporting one particular presidential candidate. Hats off to those people who saddled up and heeded their strong political urges to get me to cross over to that side.
Four years I waited. Nov. 3 could not come any sooner! Heck, my husband and I even voted early and waited in line while social distancing…yup, that was pure determination right there, mask, sanitizer and six feet apart!
I waited four years and that’s no joke. I knew back in 2017 after President Barack Obama left office. Remember that political upheaval? Hillary lost. The Russian dude’s name was dragged through the mire. The president denied any political foul play. Who’s really telling the truth? Four years of that s—tuff! The back and forth jabs from both parties were relentless, oftentimes brutal. The circus came to town!
We watched when he took his oath as the new president. His people compared the size of the crowd from the inauguration before. The new president said he has more people attending. This was the beginning of the new regime. We cared about numbers now.
We watched him in the Oval Office, behind the podium talking to reporters, listened to him as he tackled hot-button topics, watched him insult reporters (especially female reporters), listened to him again as he tried to answer questions from reporters, and so it continued. For four years.
But before I dive deeper, let me share this. I told my friend Allen (yes, the Allen del Carmen), when he suggested that I write about the Nov. 3 elections, that I don’t do politics. I was on a self-imposed political sabbatical for four years. It’s a slippery slope that I don’t want to be a part of, but I told him I can write about my observations from the Filipino American perspective.
Beyond the CNN coverage or if you watch FOX to balance your perspective of the news, kudos, there’s more to it than meets the eye. It’s beyond the blue or the red, the elephant or the donkey, or this or that party. The nuances are deep-rooted and they go beyond the fundamental differences and biases of the two major political parties.
Here’s my deal. The sad, alarming and reprehensible event from last week when the U.S. Capitol was attacked was my turning point. It was when I drew my imaginary line and could no longer remain quiet. My social media friends have read what I wrote a few days after it happened. I needed to get my bearings together after hearing and seeing the chaos. And to the people who inflicted so much pain and chaos, I say to you here (and I repeat):
No one is supreme. No one is better than the next person. No one reigns over another human being because of the color of their skin, their job title, how much their worth in currency, what your last name is, how big your house is and the price tag you put on yourself.
I am a proud first-generation Filipino American immigrant and I disrespect no one.
My race is “brown.” My skin color is not white. I eat rice, plenty of it. I disrespect no one.
I am bilingual. Even trilingual. I converse in three languages sometimes. I disrespect no one.
I have successfully blended two cultures. I love both cultures. I wake up loving both. Every day. I disrespect no one.
Give me a chance to live my life peacefully, without fear for my children and grandchildren. I have earned it. I disrespect no one.
This is not just your country. In the eyes of God and law, this is OUR country. Love it. Respect it. Honor it. All of it! DISRESPECT NO ONE.
In a few days, President-Elect Joe Biden will take his place in the annals of American history as the 46th president of the United States. Amidst the rumblings of more disruptions and chaos, and the heated discussions on impeachment and invoking the 25th Amendment, there are a few things I look forward to.
I look forward to the change in our political landscape, the return of respect and decorum on the political stage, being able to watch the State of the Union address again, and more importantly, the return to some degree of normalcy in spite of the crazy times we live in.
For a change, it is nice to envision exhaling once again regardless of the dark cloud that looms between now and Jan. 20. Or better yet, after holding my breath for so long, I know the drawn-out exhale will be so worth it. And it starts now. – NWI
