Differences

Growing up in Hawaii is something that I am most thankful for. Not just for the sand in between my toes when I’m sitting at the beach, or relaxing under the bright sun with the humidity moisturizing my skin, but ultimately it is because I feel more carefree and that I have no worries. Leaving Hawaii was something that was very hard for me to do and transitioning to college in Los Angeles was definitely an experience. I feel that I have opened my eyes to more issues that are important and I feel grateful to experience both sides on living on the “mainland,” and on a small little island like Kauai. But, this wasn’t easy. I find myself to be different from most.

Now at 20 years old, I understand that I may have differences from other people. I know where I stand, what I want, and what I will advocate for. I just didn’t think I would be that different from someone who is close to me. Someone who I basically grew up with and was raised by. That someone is my dad.

My dad and I have our differences, yet we are so similar. We’re both born and raised in Hawaii and raised with the right morals. From when I was a little girl, I learned so much from him that I can remember thinking “Wow my dad is so smart. I can’t wait to do the things that he’s doing.” But, during this recent presidential election our similarities changed. My dad voted for Trump, and I understood that he was a republican, and wanted to “keep his money, his money,” but I was very unclear as to what else he believed in. 

We then started to get into arguments about what’s right and what’s wrong, and I can hear myself screaming inside of my head saying, “No you’re wrong!” He was always so adamant to shut down anything I said that was “anti-Trump.” I knew I couldn’t be the only one who was feeling this way. I felt torn and even disconnected from my own dad. According to The Seattle Times, over a month ago, they “fielded dozens of emails, phone calls and responses on social media from people across the political spectrum who say the election has tangled their personal relationships. Some of them call the polarization unlike anything they have experienced before.”

When it came to the topic of abortion, my father and I disagreed. He is pro-life, and I am pro-choice. He then would tell me that I shouldn’t be pro-choice because of who I am and how I was brought up in a Christian family. He then went on to telling me that, “You’re going against your Christian values.” I felt angry inside, especially because I am a young woman who is still learning about myself. Of course I believe in God and I am proud to be a Christian, but I think every woman has a right to their own body. But, like I said, I know what I want, and what I would advocate for. Huffington Post stated, “Twenty-six percent of Americans say they’ve argued with a friend about the Presidential candidates this year, 23 percent have argued with a family member, while 11 percent have gotten into a fight with a coworker. A particularly adversarial 6 percent have managed to hit a trifecta.”

What saddens me is that I am part of the 23 percent who argues with a family member, and this isn’t something that I am proud of. Regardless of these disagreements with my father, I will never be able to change his thoughts or ideas. It’s just like the saying, “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.” All I can do as an individual and his daughter is fight for what I believe in and hope that I can enlighten him.