Kaira Portillo / Special to El Observador
As we get closer to the elections, it is surreal to see how much support Trump has. But the one positive thing to come out of the circuslike political debates is that more people are waking up to our reality: racism is still a bigger challenge than most people thought!
When Donald Trump came to California for the GOP convention, diverse protesters were ready, blocking the entrance to the Burlingame Hilton Hotel with creative signs, chants, and human chain barriers arms linked to each other. Many Latinos were out with flags representing El Salvador, Nicaragua, Mexico. Their main message?
Whether Latinos are U.S. citizens, legal residents or undocumented, there is a more fundamental issue that should be the focus of political debates instead of scapegoating immigrants in such trite ways.
The real issue is the exaggerated amount of money the U.S. spends on the military and financial aid given to foreign wars. When countries become wartorn, of course there will be people fleeing that country to search for a better quality of life for their children and family. And when 54% of 1.11 trillion dollars is invested in the military, compared to only 6% towards education and 6% towards healthcare, the U.S. is simultaneously creating trauma for wartorn families while failing at developing healthy, intelligent young adults (www.nationalpriorities.org).
Trump only wants to continue this vicious dysfunctional cycle. Divide and conquer tactics is a band aid solution to a historical wound that has become infected and is in need of some serious cross cultural collective healing and long term care. Hopefully, enough people will realize this fact before it is too late.