While it is always inspiring and encouraging when you hear about the accomplishment or success of other Latinos whether it be in education, entertainment, and/or politics, however this sentiment came to a somewhat halt on March 23, 2015 when learning of what one Latino in particular was looking to achieve.
What should have been a generally momentous occasion may now be known as the eventual nightmare waiting to come when on Monday Senator Ted Cruz of Texas announced that he would run for the Republican Party nomination for the 2016 Presidential Election. If Cruz does win both the Republican bid and the election he would become the very first Latino president in the history of the United States of America, but this prospect is a depressing one.
While considered a hero amongst the infamous Tea Party and a favorite for Evangelical Christians & Conservatives due to their shared beliefs, the latter two organizations do not have me dismayed—much—by the prospect of Cruz becoming the 45th President of the United States of America. What does have me bothered about his possible nomination and election are Cruz’s viewpoints on several key issues within this country and what he stands for that makes the fact he could become the first Latino President disheartening and disturbing.
On the issue of Climate Change, Cruz follows the shared belief like most conservatives and Tea Party members that climate change is merely a liberal agenda and is nothing more than a cursed fairy tale. Cruz is a sheer opponent when it comes to accepting that this planet is currently experiencing a drastic change to its climate due to increasing release levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide which is generated by the excessive use of fossil fuels. Not only is he against this belief, but he seems also to be against scientific thinking itself.
“You always have to be worried about something that is considered a so-called scientific theory that fits every scenario. Climate change, as they have defined it, can never be disproved, because whether it gets hotter or whether it gets colder, whatever happens, they’ll say, well, it’s changing, so it proves our theory,” said Cruz, commenting on how he believes science can be used to promote—what he believes is—fictitious event currently unfolding in this country and misconstruing it as being merely too hot or too cold.
But his lack of belief and understanding of climate change or his condemning of scientific research and development as merely a con game just adds to the fuel to why there is problem with Cruz possibly becoming president. Two other issues that throws me off of Cruz becoming the first possibly Latino president is his stance on gay marriage & immigration.
As gay marriage becomes the norm and is accepted by most Americans within the country, Cruz represents the one force that could likely try and undo all that has been done if given the power that will enable him to do so. Last fall the U.S. Supreme Court decided not to intervene when it came to various lower courts deciding on their own rulings that would permit the legalization of states that accepted same-sex marriages, and once again displaying how dangers Cruz and other Tea Partiers are he responded to this decision with typical irrationality.
Claiming the Court’s decision as being both “tragic and indefensible” and a display of “judicial activism at its worst,” Cruz went on to say the following within a released statement:
“The Constitution entrusts state legislatures, elected by the People, to define marriage consistent with the values and mores of their citizens. Un-elected judges should not be imposing their policy preferences to subvert the considered judgments of democratically elected legislatures…
I will be introducing a constitutional amendment to prevent the federal government or the courts from attacking or striking down state marriage laws. Traditional marriage is an institution whose integrity and vitality are critical to the health of any society. We should remain faithful to our moral heritage and never hesitate to defend it.”
The last issue that makes Cruz a not-so-great candidate is his ambiguous, yet also somewhat clear stance, on the matter of immigration within this country.
When making his candidacy announcement at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia, Cruz promised that he would be the one true candidate that will “restore the promise” of the American Dream back into this country. Now, according to Cruz, it is this American Dream that has “has enabled millions of people from all over the world to come to America with nothing and to achieve anything.”
While noble, Cruz goes on to seemingly make himself look like a hypocrite.
According to Cruz, if he is elected he promised to modify the immigration system and see that it strengthens the borders and establish a system that is beneficial those seeking to attain the “American Dream.” What Cruz seems to be stating is, only those HE and his party find fitting to attempt to touch the “American Dream” will be allowed into the country possibly setting up a stratified system at our borders thus closing off what America once liked to be: welcoming to all without persecution.
The bottom-line issue with Cruz becoming president is that his political values are blinded and heavily crippled by his personal values which could subject a large portion of people living in America to living in a state of fear because who and what they are. This notion of him trying to save an “American Dream” is warped because that American Dream isn’t one that is permitted to all.
When Cruz, Tea Partiers, and Conservatives talk about the “American Dream” it is almost their way of saying they like the way old America (and sadly still existing in-part today) used to be. They picture an old America where families consisted of a father, mother, 1-3 kids, and were financially stable and were righteous in “God”. But this isn’t a picture perfect dream, while it may be to those I mentioned earlier it can be quite another to people who do not fall under their ideal perception of who and what is American.
What this “American Dream” they talk about really signifies is a time where racism was rampant, bigotry towards people who loved and lived in a different way to the majority, women had little to no rights, and the poor were ignored and deemed lazy. Now, America still has a long way to go considering these viewpoints above still exists. While we have made some progress, If Cruz or someone like him is elected we’ll only go backwards from the little progress we have made so far in changing the way America once dreamed to dreaming in a way all can.
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