After 21 years of silence at the ballot box, Trump pushed me to vote. As a Panamanian-Canadian, I never imagined that the words of a U.S. president could ignite a civic awakening within me. But Donald Trump’s threats to both Panama and Canada made me realize that staying quiet was no longer an option.
A Childhood Marked by U.S. Invasion
I was six years old in 1989 when the U.S. invaded Panama to oust Manuel Noriega. I didn’t understand the politics, but I remember the fear — helicopters thundering overhead, the panic, the explosions. It wasn’t just an attack on a government; it was an attack on my homeland’s sovereignty.
My father fled to Canada, eventually bringing the rest of us to Montreal years later. That cold January night in 1996 felt like a fresh start. We had escaped turmoil. Voting didn’t seem essential — we were safe, rebuilding, and too focused on survival.
Trump’s Words Reopened Old Wounds
I’ve always been grateful to Canada, but never felt the need to vote — until I overheard a conversation about Panama and looked up the news. That’s when I saw Donald Trump, now re-elected as U.S. president, claiming he’d take back the Panama Canal — as if international treaties meant nothing.
Then came his dismissive remarks about Canada: joking about making it the 51st U.S. state and referring to our prime minister as a “governor.” It felt like an echo of history — another disregard for sovereignty, and this time, it was personal.
I was being attacked from both sides of my identity. One of them for the second time.
Civic Duty Ignited by a Trade War
When the U.S. launched a trade war in February, I registered to vote. Trump pushed me to vote, and I realized how long I’d taken my citizenship for granted. Studying for a citizenship test is one thing. Embracing the power and responsibility of a vote — that’s a whole other story.
A Personal Stand for Canadian Sovereignty
I’m now watching the campaign unfold with a newfound sense of duty. Mark Carney, the Liberal leader, reminds me of my economics teacher — calm, calculated, not flashy — but focused on keeping Canadians united in the face of external pressure. On the other side, Pierre Poilievre’s rhetoric about Canada being broken makes me uneasy.
I want a leader who will protect our autonomy and foster unity, not division.
A Cautionary Tale from Panama
Just last week, Panama signed a deal allowing U.S. troops back on its soil. Opposition leaders are calling it a “camouflaged invasion.” The irony and heartbreak of that move are not lost on me. It reminds me how fragile sovereignty can be when people are disengaged.
Illustration
Image: Dual citizenship symbolizes the blend of identities — and the responsibility that comes with them.
Conclusion
Trump pushed me to vote, but it’s about more than him. It’s about realizing that democracy only works when we all show up. This election, I will. Because I finally understand that silence is no longer an option.
