The Texas I have come to admire

On my tenth day in the USA, I decided to attend a Trump rally in Austin. Thinking about that now and remembering what I experienced, I didn’t enjoy my time there yet I definitely do not regret going. The experience opened my eyes. The media often portrayed Trump’s rallies as being relatively light-hearted; the press would specifically highlight some of his infamous syntax whilst I’d watch on my screen in my little bubble that was safely away from Trump. As a consequence, I approached the rally reasonably excited, expecting that I would be met with that same light-heartedness. I was completely wrong. Instead, I felt this dark and tense atmosphere that was tainted with anger and resentment towards a current America that many seemed to detest. I remember how red hats were dotted around the crowd and there were USA chants echoing in the room; my friends and I sat at the back where we attempted to stay out of sight. Before I decided to leave, Trump said softly "Isn't there no safer place to be than in a Trump rally in the heart of Texas?" and I remember thinking the complete opposite. I hoped that this was not the America or Austin that I would experience for the next ten months.

Saturday 21^st January highlighted how that is not the America or Austin I am currently witnessing. This Saturday was momentous because it was the day where more than 50,000 marchers came together at the Texas’ State Capital building to join the protests occurring around the globe that were prompted by the election of President Trump (Dreher, 2017). Men, women, and children converged to campaign about reproductive rights, sexual harassment, gender equality within the economy, and fundamental human rights.

The atmosphere I witnessed on Saturday was a stark contrast to the one I felt at the Trump rally; the march was empowering and welcoming, and there was a strong sense of solidarity. And even though the march was highlighting the dissatisfaction towards the election of President Trump and all he represents, there was no direct resentment or bitterness.

Returning home over the Christmas break, many people asked whether I was enjoying my year abroad, specifically inquiring about my thoughts on Texas. Within these questions, there would be a subtle fabrication of Texas that was synonymous with guns, cowboys and Republicans. I’d then politely reply that the Texas I know and admire is quite different to those perceptions. The march on Saturday was just a clear example of this.

Some of the inspiring signs used at the Women's March in Austin

References

Dreher, L. (2017) Austin joins global Women’s March. Austin: The Daily Texan. Available at: www.dailytexanonline.com [Accessed 23rd January 2017].