Recently, President Donald Trump tweeted to all the “suburban housewives of America.”
While the meaning of the term “housewife” is unclear, I am going to assume Trump was tweeting to me. Trump’s tweet declares that his opposing presidential candidate, Joe Biden, if elected, would “destroy [my] neighborhood and [my] American Dream.”
Shocked by Trump’s concern for my neighborhood and dreams, I investigated Biden’s plans to destroy them. If I understand correctly, Trump is referring to Biden’s plan to, if elected president, reinstate the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing rule.
I would like Trump to know that this “suburban housewife” grew up benefiting from affordable housing. This “suburban housewife” enjoys neighbors from disparate backgrounds. This “suburban housewife” desires to have “high-density affordable housing smack in the middle of [my] leafy neighborhood” where my children and I can learn from and grow old with families who live in high-density housing.
This “suburban housewife” is distinctly similar to the women living in affordable housing. This “suburban housewife” recognizes that I am only in this home, with these parks, these schools and in this suburb because I have privileges and support beyond my control. This “suburban housewife” is deeply saddened that the president of the United States uses one group of people against another, undervaluing both, for what appears to be votes.
When Trump tweets “low-income housing,” he means humans. Humans with lives, neighborhoods and dreams, just like me. I want to know those humans. I want them in my life. I want these humans to walk in our neighborhood, benefit from our “green leafy” trees and attend our schools. Where does Trump intend to house these humans if not near me? Diversity, unity and equality of humans is this “suburban housewife’s” American dream.
Natasha Rogers, Springville