Voting in Accordance with My Values Means Voting for Biden
By Maulik Patel
Immigrating to the United States from India at the age of 9 was an unexpected journey. It began with crying at the airport until no more tears could flow from my eyes. I grieved for the life I was leaving behind, and feared the unknown. It also didn’t help that I got stuck in the airplane bathroom, leading to further panic.
As the days went by, I had a new routine. At home I felt comforted by being able to speak in my mother tongue, conduct my morning puja, and eat familiar foods. But at school, I had a tougher road. I had to leave my 4th grade classroom to attend a 1st grade class to learn English, which left me feeling humiliated in front of my peers. But I persisted — and due to the support of my classmates and teachers — I excelled. I even earned an excellence in English and literature award at my Elementary school graduation the next school year. At home, having cousins who taught me how to use the computer, showed me how to talk, or how to dress, helped me assimilate to American culture. Having people around us who welcomed us and made us feel at home were crucial to my upbringing. I later learned that these are crucial tenets of our Hindu faith. In our culture, seeing and treating the unexpected guest as a form of God, is a core value.
Treating the unexpected guest as equivalent to God harbors the ideals of unity, oneness, togetherness, and solidarity as people. We can all attribute that as Hindu-Americans, many of us or our parents or grandparents have become “American” not by ourselves, but with the help of someone else, be it family or a friend. This is the principle that has made us who we are. Whether it is finding a place to live, a place to work, or buying a business, we want an America that is welcoming for all, a place where others can come, work, and achieve the American dream. This cannot happen when guests are seen as “snakes.” This is what President Trump believes of people who leave their homes for a better opportunity in the United States. While he himself is a son of immigrants, and has a wife who is an immigrant, he continues to harbor deep animus towards immigrants. He continuously touts an “America First” or nationalistic agenda, not realizing that the fabric of America is made up of immigrants.
There may be Hindu Americans who vote for Trump in spite of his repugnant views due to Trump’s ability to maximize photo-opportunities. Unfortunately, however, a photo-op is not something that has an impact in terms of trade or benefit for India or Hindus. And when it comes down to track records, Trump has done nothing compared to what the Obama-Biden Administration actually accomplished for India and for Hindus. For example, the Obama-Biden administration increased trade, made India a major defense partner, putting the relationship on-par with America’s European allies, and pushed for India’s increased global influence. Trump once said “I am a big fan of Hindu”, but he has had nothing to show for it. To the contrary, under his administration, Hindus have been met with immigration curtailment, including freezes on H1-B visas, and revocations of temporary protective status. Moreover, President Trump threatened India when Prime Minister Narendra Modi denied allowing United States access to its hydroxychloroquine, when it was initially thought of as an effective treatment for COVID-19.
Vice President Biden has been welcoming to a variety of minorities and faiths and will continue to do so. His administration was the first to celebrate Diwali at the White House. While he wants to maintain legal immigration, and ensure our immigration laws are fair, and also take national security into account, he does not automatically cast other countries or people as the worst of human beings. Imagine if a president did not allow our families to come here because of animus to India? When countries provide land or favors for President Trump, he allows them to gain benefits, whereas if they decide to not comply, he immediately turns on them.
Vice President Biden has been a strong proponent of maintaining one’s identity — as a father, husband, Senator, faithful Catholic, and Vice President — he has served each role with dignity and while prescribing to the highest ideals that can make others hopeful. In contrast, President Trump has not been ideal in any of his roles, whether that is as a brother, husband, businessman, student, or as President. Being a host as the greatest country in the world requires compassion, honesty, tolerance, dignity, and leadership. It is clear that Vice President Biden has these values, and accordingly, I will proudly cast my vote for the Biden-Harris ticket. I make this choice as a proud Hindu-American.
