Dear Mr President

“There are seasons in every country when noise and impudence pass current for worth; and in popular commotions especially, the clamours of interested and factious men are often mistaken for patriotism.”― Alexander Hamilton

If the Twilight Zone really existed, then I was in it for a few hours on the night of November 08, 2016, as it would be a night I would not forget. That night, I was working on my law assignment that was due in less than twenty-four hours; however, the activities taking place in a country miles away captivated my mind and shocked me. They carried me to a mental place of disbelief and I literally had to pinch myself to see if I was in a world of reality. They also brought with it a barrage of different emotions and for a few hours, it took precedent over my assignment. That night I laughed. I cried. I shouted. I was amazed and I was angry. However, after the night’s proceedings, I was hopeful that resiliency, empathy, and altruism for humanity would override every ideology and behaviour that would seek to cause discrimination, pain, panic and fear.

As I listened to the various commentators and looked on as the numbers came in I was dumbfounded. There was a measure of fear that crippled my body for a period of time where I became immobile. For a few minutes, I shed some tears as I saw a future, which was uncertain for millions of people. I saw a foundation that was built on the blood, sweat, tears, and sacrifice of millions who fought for justice, liberty and freedom being undermined and eroded. I saw the continued discrimination and victimisation of migrants and marginalised groups, of which women and girls belong. And I saw the capitalist smiling as the gaps between the bourgeoisie and the proletarians would increase. And I saw capitalist structures creating ingenious systems to maintain their hold on the financial purses while crippling those they believe have no right to life.

That night, when the final numbers came in I realised that I was not in the Twilight Zone but I was standing in the midst of reality thousands of miles away sharing the emotions of those who were actually experiencing the lived reality of it all. I was standing in the midst of what many believe to be a war between races, a war to maintain dividing lines of separation between the rich and the poor and a war where the end justifies the means to make a super power great again. A war where gossip, slander and lies permeated the atmosphere and would damage reputations for a very long time and a war where TRUTH would cry in the street in sackcloth and ashes, and a war where tolerance and acceptance would seem to be a thing of the past, and one where the traditional media and social media agitated the entire process, caused anxiety and panic and perpetrated bold and subtle manifestations of discrimination and hate.

That night I accepted and respected the actions of democracy but I also feared that many embraced democracy and its benefits but maintain archaic thoughts, behaviours, and actions. I feared that this movement would bring with it a type of social evolution, which would usher in a period where misogyny and patriarchy would maintain a strong hold and they would be allowed to reign side by side as kings manifesting their cruel grip on women and girls. I shuddered when the thought of discrimination and violence against women and girls entered my mind for this war may have just received new wings to become inconspicuously noticeable at a different level. People with disabilities, migrants and minorities, the poor and the socially excluded came to my mind as I saw faces filled with fear and hopelessness. Off a truth, the results from that night led to immediate disbelief even for those who supported this movement to make ‘America great Again’.

When the announcement was made that Donald Trump won the US Presidential elections his camp was overjoyed as they were now granted the keys to the Nation to implement their plans and systems of change. For the opposing side, it was a bitter defeat and not even tears shed or the comforting embrace from a familiar friend could console those whose dreams were shattered. They believed for a moment that their lives were torn apart as this was an emotionally traumatic experience for many. H.P. Lovecraft once said, “The oldest and strongest emotion of mankind is fear, and the oldest and strongest kind of fear is fear of the unknown.” The fear of the unknown was crippling many Americans, be they native, citizens, or migrants. And this fear has been transcended to nations across the globe. People are living with uncertainty because so much erroneous information have been bandied about that we often struggle to find the truth even within ourselves.

Women and girls are fearful and that fear is crippling them so much that they are beginning to fear the Nation, which they once held up with great pride. Migrants are fearful as they are wondering if the land which they sought refuge would dispel them as discarded refuse. The disabled are fearful as they wonder if their disability would be the cause for further social, academic and financial exclusion. The lower and middle class are fearful as they see widening gaps of economic inequality and wonder if they would ever attain to the American Dream and if they would be punished further because of their class. There is a constant fear being exchanged between the races. The fear of being enslaved and the fear of holding the reigns of ‘Massa power’ remain strong. And countries looking on are fearful as they are uncertain as to the next move of the new American President, as America is often seen as a Lamb-like beast with the dangerous fangs of a devouring Lion, which has the wings of an Eagle that allows her to pounce with stealth and speed when she likes.

On Friday, 20 January 2017 this historical momentum of change to ‘Make America Great Again’ will culminate with the swearing in of presidential elect Donald Trump as the 45th President of the United States of America. The democratic process gave him a victory which many was not expecting and his mantra ‘Make America Great Again’ incited many Americans to vote for him. I respect the office which he holds, I respect the democratic process and the voice of the people who sought for a change as many saw Donald Trump like the dark horse in the race. During the race the odds seemed to be against him, however, he strategized and connected with the man on the ground. He told them what they wanted to hear appealing to their emotions, listening to their clamours, and their calls to live in a country which is not only superior but a country which would begin a new journey to rule the world, dominate, and increase its economic power.

Mr President, I am a simple lady, a West Indian Advocate, and like many around the world, America has touched my life and my country. It has touched and changed the lives of thousands of women and girls around the world whom I call sisters for many of them fled to the United States in the pursuits of freedom, to create a new life, and to live the American Dream. On the 20th January 2017, you will stand before millions to take your oath of office may. You also pledge to make ‘America Great Again’ by destroying the flowing wells of racial discrimination and injustices which sprout toxic fumes undermines and darken the greatness of America. May this official oath move you to dismantle the widening gaps where income inequality and unemployment seem to be nurturing the breakdown of society and increase the risk of negative social ills and chaos. As you take your oath, may you push for gender equality, equity, and fight for the elimination of all forms of discrimination and violence against women and girls. May you remember the founding fathers and their fight for liberty, freedom and justice. And likewise remember the sweat and sacrifices of migrants who contributed to the development of America. Alexander Hamilton, one of the founding fathers, was himself a migrant who was born in the West Indies and migrated to America; he not only tried to attain but also truly lived the American Dream.

May your presidential oath of office propel you to work towards uniting Americans regardless of their colour, culture, religious persuasion, or economic standing, that during your term the ideology of race wars will be eliminated and diversity would be embraced and seen as a priceless tapestry for sustainable livelihoods. May America’s borders be opened to embrace those who desire what the majority of humans desire which is the right to life and to live in peace, free from fear, violence and discrimination, and the right to seek opportunities to advance and contribute to the productivity of the nation, and the right to seek a better life for one’s self and one family, but more so that you do not kill the dreams of many, the dream to become self-actualized.

When the American flag is flown and when you sit in the Oval office and the global community attentively take gaze towards you, all with different expectations, in response to their gaze may you apply wisdom, justice, fairness, equality, and empathy with courage and be a leader which positively changes the trajectory of the United States of America, its people and positively impact members of the global community. As you hold to memory “Justice is the end of government. It is the end of civil society. It ever has been and ever will be pursued until it be obtained, or until liberty be lost in the pursuit.” ― Alexander Hamilton