I work for the federal government and my agency is currently experiencing a shutdown.  That means that I’m furloughed – which in simple words means that I’m not allowed to work and thus, I’m not receiving a paycheck.

The furlough started while I was in Puerto Rico for the Holidays.  Today is day 26 of the government shutdown with no end in sight.

If you follow up the politics you know that the President didn’t fund the government, as he didn’t get the billions of dollars that he was asking to build a wall between the United States and Mexico.  The topic of the wall has been a difficult one for me to deal with since Trump was promising a wall when he was campaigning for the Presidency.  Even before Trump became President, his comments about immigrants from Mexico and other Hispanic countries were offensive and discriminatory.  Nothing has changed since then.

In my opinion, the views about Mexican and other Hispanic immigrants and the fear that Trump is trying to create by saying that we need a wall is nothing more than an attempt to prevent people in need to come to this country and earn a decent living.  Immigrants are not taking jobs from Americans.  However, most of them have brown skin and that in my opinion, is the biggest reason why immigrants from Mexico and South America are been discriminated against.  To me this is the same old racism that has existed in the United States since its beginnings.  I thought there was progress about acceptance of diversity in this country.  However, the actions of Trump and his supporters during his campaign and now during his Administration tells me that racial discrimination in this country is alive and well.  Trump has not only offended minorities, but has opened the door to blatant racism and discriminatory language in this country.

I would like to get my job back and would also like to get paid for my job.  However, I don’t support building the wall and as such, I’m willing to be furloughed for the cause.