Two Sides for a future
The goal of this interview is trying to understand the opinion of an Afro-American citizen, about the candidates – Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump.
To start, one of the most critical dates in this country is approaching fast –November 8th we will have the Election Day. Citizens will elect their next president on that day. And, indeed, some doubt remains among many.
Should voters choose the Democratic Party candidate who has a modern vision for social and economic equality, which seeks to battle unemployment, as well as provide educational and health opportunities for Americans?
Or…
Should voters choose the Republican Party candidate who defends fiscal and social conservatism and supports economic liberalism?
Does he favor privatization, the end of federal social programs, and an overhaul of the U.S. tax system?
Direct Speech
“You are an American citizen undecided between both candidates.
My main question and what caught my attention in the first place was the fact that an African American is still in doubt between Trump and Hillary, even after all the racist comments and racist ideas that Trump expressed during this campaign.”
Q - Do you feel uncomfortable with many of Trump's comments?
A- Yes. Of course, I do. Donald Trump is Racist, mostly with Spanish speakers and Muslim people. He has a strong opinion about people who follow the Muslim religion. About the black community, he is a little more covered up.
Q- Looking back over the campaign, who do you think generated the most interest among followers?
A- Trump has several followers. He´s generating a lot of people to follow him, but that doesn’t mean he has the most positive followers. Donald Trump always has something crazy to say. He catches the attention of playing with the media.
Let´s look for this State and this area, Bluefield. When I arrive here, analyzing the people, I think that everyone here will be the vote in Trump. In this area is what will happen. But looking for all the State of Virginia, Hillary has the lead. How do you explain this?
Looking at the specific area of Bluefield, most of the people think the rest of Virginia is the same. But no. Bluefield represents a small part of Virginia. We have big cities, like Charlotte and Richmond.
You said that you have not yet made a final decision.
Q- Why? What doubts do you have about the candidates?
A- The question, How a black guy has doubts between Hillary and Trump? I thought Hillary is a better option. We supposed to choose a better candidate, not a less harmful candidate. But for me, it is tough to choose between both. When the campaign started, my option was clearly for Hillary. For example, I support Hillary´s ideas for women. I considered myself a feminist, and I did listen to the statements of Donald Trump. That helped me to choose one side. But this is not the only important thing for the country. Donald Trump is one of the candidates for the US President but represents only 1% of the people who think the same opinion about women. A lot of supporters of Trump don´t have the same idea. I want a President who can change the life of the people. For example, today, I saw you speak with a guy who wasted a lot of food, and a lot of people need this food. Billions of dollars in a bank and exist people on the streets without food. We need someone who changes that. I don’t see Donald Trump changing this; in my opinion, he represents 1% of the people who are only interested in money. But can we trust in Hillary?
I know when I Listened and read about Hillary´s email scandal, my doubts increase. For example, the mom of my girlfriend is a Trump supporter. And when I started to visit her, I have a 100% Hillary´s supporter. We talk about this theme, and of course, I gave my opinion, but I needed to be smart and try to understand both sides. She loves me. She is a Trump supporter, and She´s not a racist. People assume who is a Trump supporter automatically is racist. No. Hillary´s supporters believe that Trump´s supporters are automatically unintelligent. No.
Another thing that makes me doubt between both is Trump is a Christian. Independently of all what he said until now, he believes in “bring God back into the office.” These ideas, the positive ones, gird up for the idea that “God has a plan.” Hillary, for example, tries to remove God from the White House altogether, and a significant percentage of Americans are Christian.
Now, speaking directly about the candidates
Hillary Clinton
Q- Does the fact that Hillary is a woman have any impact on your decision?
A -No
Q- Looking at Hillary´s ideas, do you think she has the “stuff” to be the next US president?
A- Speaking about political things, yes. Hillary has a good political background.
Q- A lot of people say that if she wins, her husband, Bill Clinton, will be the one who runs the country. Does that scare you? Do you think it may be the truth?
A- No. It is not how Americans work. It is only speculation. She will not let it happen because it is her time. She worked hard for this. Will be Hillary´s presidency, not Bill´s presidency. She has a point to prove.
Donald Trump
Now, turning to the Republican candidate, Donald Trump. He has been grabbing a lot of headlines because of many of the things that he has said.
Q- Many of the things Donald Trump says are controversial. Do you think he says these things to get attention, a tactic to gain voter support, or do you think they represent the real Donald Trump?
A- Both. Trump is a sexist, racist, is against practices of Muslims and Hispanic people. But a lot of things are to get attention from the people and the media. He is not a politician. A lot of ideas are not from Donald Trump. An analogy: If you are excellent selling cars, it doesn´t mean you are perfect selling houses. He needs a tactic. He needs to learn how to get the attention of the people.
Q- Many Trump supporters say that he has good ideas.
Which of Donald Trump´s ideas do you think are good? Which do you support?
A-One of the things that Donald Trump has well is to put the right people in the right places. People who don´t do anything for the country. American has hands everywhere. Different places. And the people believe with Trump we don´t need to concern with these types of hands.
If we look for both of the candidates, we can conclude there are differences between them. One defends liberalism and other support radicalism. I would like to have you thinking about critical issues from each of the candidate´s perspective.
Gender Equality
Q- Starting with gender equality, how do you see the words exchange between candidates and their behavior?
A- Trump is definitely behind on this issue. Hillary is big on that. But exist a lot of women who support Trump as well.
Q- What do you think about the following comments from Trump? Do you agree with Trump when he says:
"If Hillary cannot satisfy her husband, how she will satisfy all the Americans?"
"Look at her face. How can you vote on that?"
"Abortions? It's necessary to create a punishment, but now I don't know what."
"2600 cases of sexual harassment. What did the genius expect when they put women and men working together?"
A- My opinion is terrible. Trump sounds like a 23 young boy.
Q- What is your view of the role of women in American society?
A- The people don't take women seriously enough. People look for this as a joke. The extreme feminism is the same extreme about black people. The treatment is the same: Like a joke.
Everybody has a mother. But most people don't see it like that. Sisters, mothers, aunts, grandmothers…But people don't think like that.
Two curiosities:
-Donald said: "If only men vote, I will win." You know, after this statement, a group of men created a campaign on twitter to try to eliminate women's right to vote?
-Donald Trump named his dog after the first lady of China. He said: "I like cute dogs and women's."
Q- Do you have sisters? Other important women in your life? Do you think their life would change with Donald Trump as president?
A- Yes. I have important women in my life. But do you think women's lives will be worse? Looking for the past when Obama got elected, everyone feels the racism will be finished. The racial violence will be completed. Look and analyze. Nothing change. Of course, some people may have improved, but overall, there is still unequal treatment. So if Trump gets elected, he finished with women's rights? I don't believe it. If Hillary wins, we don't know if something will be changing. A different theme but the same thing. When Obama won, the young people, for example, they could look at it and say, "If he could I'll also be able to achieve my goals".
As a model. But the racism and the unequal treatment remains the same. If Hillary wins, women have a new role model to follow but are only a model. It's only an extra push. If Hillary wins, the people always say she will do a lousy job, no matter what. And they use the fact of being women to say that wrong. Hillary or not Hillary, women can do great things. I don't believe in changing anymore. It's crazy, crazy what people think about other religions, gender, or different colors in this country. It is insane. Sometimes without reason, only because the people blind with such hatred. People need to understand everyone is different. Exist good Christians and bad Christians. Good Muslims and bad Muslims. Good black people and bad black people. Right, white people and bad white people. Don't exist races; it doesn't matter what people believe or where it came from. Only exist good and bad people.
War
Talking a little bit about war… we all know that there will always be a war. Perhaps even worse than now.
If Hillary wins, there is who says that there will be a war against Russia and China, while if Trump wins, he tells himself: "The US will be so strong that no one will take us." He declared war against China because of coin handling, and he will bomb the Islamic State until the hell". More war means more soldiers in battle. More deaths. More destroyed families. More children without parents.
Q- What's your opinion about this theme, and what do you think is the one who presented the best option regarding this: Trump or Hillary?
A- Despite all the arrogance of Trump, I believe he wants not to be part of a War. He's not preparing for war. No one is ready. For Trump…I don't think Trump wants World War 3. But thinking about Hillary, I believe maybe she wants to promote her power. I think if Trump's win is better for the security of people.
Economy
The war will mess with the country and world economy, being America one of the most influent countries of this century. Hillary promised an increase in the minimum wage for 12 dollars/hour. For example, Walmart employs 2,1 million American people. If the minimum wage rises, the company will need to cut somewhere. Probably the company will cut in staff — not only Walmart but all the companies.
Q- So, what´s your opinion about Hillary´s promise to the American citizens?
A- People, in typical areas, can´t leave only with 6,5 or 7,5 dollars per hour. But I agree with you. The companies might cut their employees. Maybe to replace by machines that work faster. The problem between technology and human people. In the future, perhaps you only have automatically supermarket checkouts and not people. So, where are the jobs for people? It’s a big bubble.
Trump, for example, wants to finish the taxes for people and…for the companies. Maybe it is a solution balanced with the raised minimum wage. But, nobody knows what to do that.
On the other side, Donald Trump promises to reduce taxes for people and companies. He said he would raise the US economy.
Q- Who you think would be the best candidate to make the US the biggest economy in the world?
A- I don´t know. I don´t know enough about the economy.
Weapons
One of the most debated themes and one of the most important businesses in the US. The use of weapons generates a lot of money for the country. The Democrat Candidate defends the end of gun ownership. The Republican candidate supports the end of gun ownership control. For Trump, everyone can use weapons wherever and whenever.
A list of some statements of Donald Trump:
“If exist more armed people, in a terrorist attack in France, don´t exist so many deaths.”
“If exist more armed people, there will be more protection for the innocents.”
Q- What´s your view about teenagers using weapons in schools?
A- Do you remember how you were a teenager? No way. Children and teenagers have to be away from weapons. But in my point of view, it is too late to take guns from people. Of course, we need to try to change this. But it is not easy. No one requires to be registered to buy a gun. T is so easy to buy guns.
Q- To start drinking and go to a bar, you must be 21 years old, but to buy a gun is only need to be 16. How do you explain this?
A- Doesn’t exist a valid explanation. But it is not the president’s decision either. Do you know what is the NRA (National Rifle Association)? The most potent association advocates for gun rights. It is mighty. And this association has a substantial financial contribution to the Republican Party.
With this, we can draw several conclusions. But I do not want to be accused of promoting conspiracy theories.
Q- Do you agree more with a controlled attitude or an uncontrolled attitude?
A- I prefer a controlled attitude, and I wish there is a better way about guns and strip away everything and start fresh. But exist so many people with arms, so I don´t believe in a significant change. It is challenging to change this.
Immigration
The last theme is the immigration and the relation between both of the candidates with different colors and religions. An aspect that has been intensely criticized during the campaign.
Q- Do you agree with the expulsion of 11 million illegal immigrants from the country?
A- Are all these immigrants criminals, or they did something wrong and bad for the country? Probably a few, inside of this number, but not everyone. It´s necessary to see the history of the person. In the US, they can control everything. You can see if you are a criminal or no. I am sure about one thing: The radicalism in this theme is not the best way. Some people do not have to pay for others.
Q- For Trump, one of the biggest problems in the country is the Mexican people because of drugs and crimes.
Do you agree with the construction of a big wall on the border between Mexico and the USA?
A- (Silence). No, (hesitate). It is financially irresponsible.
Q- Only Financial?
A- I´m not saying the people don´t deserve to come into the country. You don´t want to be a victim of an overpopulation. I think people can continue to go to this country. But over the right way.
Q- But, a few minutes ago, you said: “Not all the black people are bad, not all the black people are good. Not all Christians are bad; not all Christians are good.” So, if a construction, it looks like we are back in time to the past. The same thing about the Berlin Wall.
With this decision, all the Mexican people will be suffered. Not only criminals or drug dealers. What´s your opinion about this construction?
A- (Silence) I don´t think that building a wall will solve the problems. But it is necessary to create some rules and barriers to control the situation.
Q- Do you think the Mexican government will agree with this decision? Or we will have more war?
A- I don´t think this will create a new war. But maybe it will create a new enemy.
Donald Trump, in his political rally, expelled a young Muslim girl and said: “Do not enter more Muslim people in the country while we don’t solve the problems with the Islamic State.” There are now 5 million legal and integrated Muslims in the US, and there are 3409 Muslims soldiers inside the American army.
Q- What´s your opinion about this decision?
A- There is a good reason for that. Until we realize what´s going on, this is the best decision for the safety of everyone else. With this, I am not saying to kick people out of the country who are already here. But it is essential to try to stop potential threats for the US. Maybe they are already here, but we need to try to protect the people. We live in dangerous times.
Q- Do you think that Muslims who are integrated into US society, until now, will have an easy life?
A- I think the lives of these people are going to become increasingly harder.
Future
Q- After the campaign, who do you think that has a better position to win?
A- Clinton. But the gap is starting to close down, and Trump is getting closer. The email scandal helps Trump. It is not easy to predict. Everything can happen.
Q- What do you predict for the future of your country?
A- After this, everything will be back to normal. In a short time, nothing will happen. In the long future, if it is a Trump presidency, we will see a dramatic change in our economy. With Clinton's presidency, we will see a difference in social problems and equality. After knowing the results, no matter who is elected, a lot of people will say nasty things, and in the next few days, they will be back to work. All the campaign has been insane and saturating. It will take some time for people who lost the elections support who won. And I think everyone has to help to get the country better.
I have hope for a good future. But in my opinion, the middle term is going to be wrong (maybe in 4/5 months). In the long run, I hope and believe in some changes with both candidates.
Q- Do you think we are going in the direction of an era ruled by radicalism?
A- No. A president doesn't have enough power. The president has his ideas but is not alone. Exist a lot of other constraints. For example, not all the republicans support and agree with Trump. And the same thing for Hillary. This is crazy. The people complain about these candidates but one of the reasons to have come so far it was because of people's decision.
Q- What do you predict for the future for black people?
A - Trump is racist, but a lot of people are racist. If Trump is president, the problem of black people is they don't care enough with their one trouble. I don't think this is going to be worst. Maybe I'm just optimistic. The only group, honestly, that will get worst, with both presidents, are the Muslims. Not Hispanic people, not black people, not gays, not a woman. He is not the first president to be racist, and he is not the first president to be sexist either. It's hard to understand this, but it is true. I can repeat it: when Obama won, every one of black people thought everything would change, but it did not happen.
Trump wants to take Muslims from the US, and Hillary wants to seek God and faith from the office. Hillary's decision is a very negative point for American people. I'm an example of that.
Think: If most of the people say: "I will vote for what my faith decide." But if Hillary wants to take God from the office?! Do you understand this point? It is wrong for Hillary. They can't vote in faith for someone who doesn't seem to believe in religion.
I'm baffled. I am trying to find reasons to vote for one of the two. I started with 99% -1% as Hillary's supporter, but after all this campaign, it was all open. 50%-50% now.