Hillary’s Campaign Ad

The ad shown above is from the Hillary Clinton campaign. In making this campaign, she intended to target the Muslim-American population and their sympathizers. Earlier on in the campaign season, Trump attacked Muslim parents when they spoke out about the death of their son during combat in Iraq. He noticed that only the father was speaking during this speech, and he said it was because Muslim culture would not allow women to speak. This was both inaccurate and racist. This statement of his solidified the Muslim community against him, as there was already a very large disdain for Trump because of his prior racist, anti-Muslim statements. Shortly after Trump commented on this couple’s speech– after he entirely overlooked the purpose of the speech–the mother came out and gave a statement. She stated that the reason she didn’t speak was due to the fact that speaking on the subject was just too emotionally taxing.In the ad, the father tells the story of his son, and his heroic act that saved many others while costing him his life. The video ends with such a powerful question: Mr. Kahn directs his question to Trump, asking if his son would have a place in Trump’s America.

Even though his son earned a Purple Heart and saved so many American lives, Trump cannot see past the fact that he was Muslim. He has many times stated that he would like to purge the United States of many ethnic groups, particularly the Muslim community for fear of Isis spies. Also in his campaign, he has alienated veterans, calling John McCain a “loser” for being a prisoner of war. He also has said that he can relate to veterans with severe PTSD because he too has made great sacrifices. By doing so, Trump has effectively alienated both the Muslim and veteran demographics. This ad by Hillary Clinton shows her support for both groups. It was deliberately made with the same family Trump previously attacked, and deliberately includes two groups of people that are currently very anti-Trump. After Trump lost those groups of people as supporters– if they ever actually did support him– Hillary made sure those people had a place for their votes to go.

Personally, I found this ad very moving and very powerful. While I am not a member of the Muslim community, nor am I or a member of my family a veteran, I found I could identify with this family. My mother is from Pakistan, and our family is very close witha number of Muslim families from all over southeast Asia and the Middle East. I feel personally offended by any attacks made on the Muslim community. This ad gave the Kahn family another opportunity to tell the story of their son without being overshadowed by Trump’s resulting racist comments. The story itself is one that is very emotionally moving, but the end is what really hit home hard. When Mr. Kahn asks if his son would have a place in Trump’s America, it almost made me cry. The point he was trying to make is that there are a number of groups that have immigrated to the United States, myself included, that Trump would like to deport from the country. Not only would he get rid of entire religious groups and ethnicities, but he would also deport American citizens that have fought for American ideals overseas, such as Mr. Kahn’s son. He does not consider them American even after the sacrifices they have made for this country.