The Current | Vol. 31 Issue 14

November 10, 2020 | nsucurrent.nova.edu 11 Opinions The cuban issue Just a couple of days before Nov. 3, I drove by Tropical Park in Miami. I stopped at a light for what had to have been two minutes, but it was two minutes that changed my whole outlook on the upcoming election. Prior to this, I had been very keen on staying as far away from the warfare of the election as possible. That changed when I saw my fellow Cuban- Americans assembling in masses in support of President Trump. Nothing new there. I had seen them do it many times before, but there was something different about this time. As I stared from the traffic light, it almost looked like a scene out of communist Cuba, just replace a hammer and sickle for an American flag. The first thought that came to my mind was, “Not four more years of this.” Many in the country were shocked at the power of the Cuban vote in Florida and expressed discontent at the way the Cuban- American community voted. Although I share that discontent, the results are understandable and the blame does not fall completely on the community. It is a fact that Cubans are more likely to vote Republican than Democrat. This becomes easy to see when a brief history of the modern Democrat party and Cuba are explained. A failed invasion by the Kennedy administration, weak attempts at peace by Carter and Bill Clinton and Elían all have obliterated Cuban trust in the party. Meanwhile, Republicans can bet on their vote, promising toughness towards the Castro regime and making absolutely no change on the island at all. But, why Trump? Why vote again for a president that barely changed Cuban policy and only rolled back half of Obama’s controversial policy changes? He practically did nothing for them. I blame this on the socialist smear. The Trump campaign was very smart and crafty, using the popularity of socialism in some circles of the Democrat party and Cuban paranoia, to pin Joe Biden as a socialist. Obviously, Joe Biden is not a socialist. However, the campaign and the President knew the victims of communism would believe it if they pushed it. Just like that, Cubans and some Venezuelans and Nicaraguans adorned their MAGA hats. But, what could be expected of the victims of the hemisphere’s most murderous regimes? It’s a knee-jerk reaction for people who lost whole families to the firing squads. For them, “socialist” is as big of a deal as “Nazi” is for Americans and those who have heard the horrors of the Holocaust. So, who is to blame? In my opinion, the Biden campaign should have been more proactive to combat the socialist smear and should not have taken its impact so lightly. Democrats may have been able to take Florida if they focused on debunking the socialist mudslinging from Trump. Name-calling. Let’s face it, we’ve all witnessed it. It might have been as subtle as a kid in the park being called ‘spastic’ because they swung a bat at a baseball and missed or a group of teens conversing within themselves and using the slur “retard,” when one says something foolish. These are just two of the many words which have historically been used to refer to and describe people with disabilities. Unfortunately, they have been taken out of context, now commonly used slang words that are thrown around by people of all ages. When people use these words in their day-to- day language, it is usually to insult someone or call them uncoordinated or simple. So why shouldn’t we use these types of words to convey such feelings? Most simply put, it is hurtful and derogatory. Using these words as slang terms suggests that people with disabilities are flawed and stupid. People might almost never have this intention, but they still cause people with disabilities or friends and family members of those with disabilities pain. In addition, it reinforces the already negative stereotypes of people with disabilities. Would removing these terms from the vocabulary be seen as too politically correct? Avoiding these words is not being overly politically correct. It’s just showing basic human decency and respect to others. There are tons of people out there that defend the use of words like these with a degrading connotation, claiming that “it isn’t that serious” or that “it’s used like that all the time.” Just put yourself in the shoes of a person with a disability and think about how it By: Isabella Gómez Contributing Writer Your bigotry is showing would make you feel. Think about it on the same level as being called a sexist, racist or homophic. Long story short, you really shouldn’t use any word without knowing its meaning and proper context, especially if it might come out as offensive. But what should be done if we hear someone using a word like this in the wrong context? I’m sure many of us have been in a conversation with someone, a co-worker or even a friend, where they casually use the R-slur. It’s honestly a situation that’s both awkward and difficult, especially if it’s with someone you aren’t completely comfortable with. The best way to deal with this circumstance is to just let the person gently know that it’s not acceptable. You can even go farther, reminding them that there are lots of other options which aren’t insulting. It may seem difficult at first to remove those words from your subconscious day-to- day language, but with mindful practice, we can all become more aware and adapt to a more considerate vocabulary. In summary: use the correct words to describe something, whether it’s a mental illness, disability or a descriptive word in general. Acknowledge when stereotypes exist and debunk them. For people with disabilities, use language that recognizes that they are separate from their illness. It is not what defines them. For the purpose of simply being a better person, be mindful, educate yourself and use words correctly. Now, sadly, as the country seeks to reunite and come together, there is still a population of immigrants as partisan and divisive as their counterparts across the Florida Straits. By: Rey Perez Contributing Writer PHOTO PRINTED PERMISSION BY F. MIRELES Cuban house styled wall decor.