my essence, my uniqueness - being a proud muslim girl in a unique world. how will i sustain that proud feeling? we may no longer live in a melting pot. it might just be a fruit plate - people classified and seperated by race and gender, with none intermixing. sure, they say, "it's just for publicity, there are checks and balances," but to me, it's very real. how will people recieve me? do they see my personality? my soul? or do they see the extremists that represent my religion, my culture, my race? i may be persecuted. i may be driven out of the country, chased by xenophobes and bigots. he says, "all muslims will be banned." it's been changed, muddled as the long, excruciating months drew out, but the message is very clear - we are no longer welcome. this is my worst nightmare. will i finish my high school years here? will i be criticized for wearing a headscarf in public? or will we move, to pakistan or saudi arabia or canada? will a time arise in which we need to escape? to leave our house and our family and friends and personal belongings and pet and escape? is it a possibility that 'stop-and-frisk' will no longer be a nightmare, but a harsh reality? our rights could be taken away at the blink of an eye. 

i stop. and wait. and look at the news. i look for any possibility to be saved. i look for a safe place to live. i look for someone to blame. i look for someone to save us. 

though we must respect him, and listen to what he says, a part of me will always resent the fear and paranoia he has brought. the hatred and racism and uproarous ruckus he unleashed. a part of me will always believe his earnestnesss to 'make america great again' is ersatz, and will be the downfall of us all.

however. i will listen to his policies, and his ideas. there are checks and balances, and there were publicity stunts.

perhaps, just perhaps, there will be a saving grace. perhaps, just perhaps, america won't be so bad off after all.