Go Vote!

Pardon the interruption.

Lately, I’ve been sharing political commentary—touching on Donald Trump’s remarks about Khizr Kahn; Ana Navarro's comments to Michael R Caputo; Trump's message regarding Internment Camps for Muslims; and the infamous Locker Room Talk. But the reason I'm posting commentaries is because I feel this election is extremely important on so many levels.

Tomorrow is Election Day. It’s a privilege that we, as Americans, get to head to the ballot box and choose our next leader. Despite the noise from Trump’s camp, the election process is closely monitored by both parties and independent observers. It's fair. We have to believe our votes count—and we must respect the results.

We’re fortunate to live in a country where free speech and peaceful protest are protected—at least, that’s what Austyn Crites believed when he raised an anti-Trump sign at a rally in Reno. He was swiftly tackled and removed.

Like Crites, I’m also a registered Republican. A Texas Republican, no less. But as a Mexican-American, I can’t support a candidate whose record reflects consistent disrespect toward minorities, the marginalized, and women.

To be clear—I used to enjoy Trump as a TV personality. The Apprentice, his Howard Stern appearances—I was entertained. Even the primaries were compelling. But then it turned. He attracted the kind of followers my mother always warned me about—bigots.

Our First Amendment guarantees freedom of speech, religion, assembly, and the press. And yet, Trump has threatened these freedoms. The Columbia Journalism Review has documented his attacks on journalists who publish unflattering reports.

As a journalism student, I take this seriously. Trump once said, "I’m gonna open up our libel laws...so we can sue them and win lots of money." That’s not democracy—that’s authoritarianism. There are certain code of ethics journalists are taught and follow when reporting news, such as accuracy of information before reporting. You can see the list of ethical standards followed by many journalists HERE. So, As a student of journalism, I take his threatening comments seriously.

If you write, post, or speak out—this affects you too.

To lighten the mood, Trevor Noah once joked what a second Trump term might look like, channeling Steve Harvey: “No matter what you think—your vote matters.”