Please don't misunderstand me. I'm scared, too [View all]

[Pototan]

I have posted for 2 years now about being retired, with my wife, at a beautiful place in the Philippines. I'm glad I'm here, but mostly for selfish reasons. That reason being, I don't have to argue politics every day.

That being said, I'm not a stupid person. I know Trump's election will be a danger to the Philippines and my extended family. My wife's family is highly educated. 85% of Filipinos speak English as a second language. At least a half dozen Filipino nieces and nephews work overseas, Engineers, construction workers and nurses. 2 in the US. 2 others in New Zeeland and 1 each in Saudi Arabia and the UAE. They all work with work visas (OFW's). The folks in the US are now at risk. The Philippines is dependent on "remittances", which is foreign money sent back home to their families. It makes up 20% of the Philippine GDP, and the majority of that money comes from America.

There is also the growing threat from China. There are daily disputes in the South China Sea, within the area of Philippine jurisdiction as decided by international courts. China has created artificial, military islands close to, or within, this jurisdiction. I live on the Island of Panay, which is in the Central Philippines (Visayas). I'm only about 80 miles from the island of Palawan, which is the closest island to the disputed areas. "America First" is really a catch phrase for isolationism. The Philippines cannot stand alone against Chinese aggression, any more than it could against Japanese aggression in WWII. I firmly believe China will invade Tiawan during Trump's term. My guess is in 2027, further putting the Philippines at risk.

Finally, the Philippines is in the top tier of nations at risk from climate change. To elect a climate denier who will set the world's efforts back decades in dealing with warming ocean water puts all of my extended family and future generations of Filipinos more at risk.

For selfish reasons, I'm glad I'm here than in the United States, and that's because I don't have to argue about politics every day, face to face. I can come here to DU, in a safe place, to discuss the issues, and then go about my business with a friendly, loving people who have either no idea who Donald Trump is, or really don't care. And, although I have listed the risks we face here, the people I encounter on a daily basis have no idea about those risks.

So, in closing, I am not smug about being away from the US during these trying years. I fear for both my countries, my original home in America (where I'm still a citizen) and my adopted home, here in the Philippines. But don't think for a moment that I don't understand the risks I face, even 6,000 miles from my birthplace.