by Cherina Kleven
I was 12 years old in 1970, when I first came to the United States from Taiwan. Like many, my family came to America seeking a better life, with the promise that if we worked hard enough and kept our heads down, we too could have our own American Dream.
And we did just that. Our family quickly became enamored with Las Vegas: we loved many things about the city, but the bright lights, the never ending sense of opportunity, and the culture made the city home. As a child, I modeled the spirit I saw in my parents. I quickly learned that with determination and hard work, our American journey provided the opportunity for me to aspire to my childhood dream – becoming a firefighter.
I faced many challenges as a woman and an immigrant in a traditionally male-dominated line of work throughout my career. It was easy for others to look down on me and treat me differently. But I never lost sight of those immigrant values I learned from my parents.
And through my efforts, I rose through the ranks of the Las Vegas Fire and Rescue department, to become its first Asian-American assistant fire chief. It was an honor to work in a profession that gave me the opportunity to help others in the city that helped my family find their home.
Unfortunately, the spirit that once welcomed and praised the hard work of immigrants who built this country is gone. Immigrants, especially those coming from Asia like myself, now face more discrimination and xenophobia, fueled by the fear-tweeting from the White House and President Trump. For me, I have feared sending my children off to school, wondering if they will be bullied for how they look. People often ask, “Where are you from?” without realizing that my family has called Las Vegas home their whole life. As parents, we hope to raise our children to not belittle others, especially those of different backgrounds. But Trump’s behavior is rippling through our society.
In fact, Trump’s decorum is the opposite of what we teach our children, and the behaviors we work to exemplify. He continually lies, bullies, and manipulates those around him to get his way, and when he doesn’t, he throws a Twitter tantrum. He repeatedly attacks those of unprotected and lesser status, and encourages his followers to attack them as well. We saw it in the first debate: he can’t even bring himself to denounce violent white supremacists. His behavior is dangerous and its consequences are felt deep in the immigrant community. What would we tell our children if they acted like this? I know my parents surely would not stand for anything remotely close to these obscene behaviors.
As immigrants, we are often reminded that someone migrated to this country before us to make it better for us. We are often challenged to pay it forward and make it better for the next generation who seeks American prosperity, and we are constantly reminded to break down barriers and pay it forward. Donald Trump has never had to work hard for anything in his life. He was handed millions of dollars by his father, waltzed into the finest schools, and is privileged to treat or degrade others however he so pleases. He has never felt the fear of tying your family’s livelihood to a small business or missing work to care for sick family members. He has not paid it forward. His story is not our story.
On the contrary, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris understand our communities. Harris, the daughter of immigrants herself, understands our fight, and they both know the value of honest work, what it is like to be poor, looked down upon, and the spirit it takes to make it in America. Together, the two of them have passed laws to make our lives easier and ensure a brighter future for our families. As President and Vice President, we know our fight as immigrants will be their fight too. They will stand up for the values we hold dear, and ensure America is once again a welcoming beacon of hope for those looking to make a better life.
It is time we as immigrants vote to elevate those in power who share our story and our determination, not just in the fight for bettering our own families, but allfamilies. Together, we’ll secure a better future that brings all of us together and advances our shared values by electing Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.
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(The views expressed by our Op-Ed contributors are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect the predilection of the editorial board and staff of Asian Journal.)
Cherina Kleven is a Taiwanese immigrant, mother, and the former assistant fire chief of Las Vegas Fire and Rescue. Cherina is the first female Assistant Fire Chief and the first Asian-American Assistant Fire Chief in the state of Nevada, and one of the highest-ranked Asian firefighters nationwide.