Shanti Thokchom's Life Experiences
- Part 43 -
new #46 US president

By Shanti Thokchom *

Thank you all E-pao readers everywhere. Today, I got the mood to write again.

Let me start with the swearing in of the new # 46 US president Joe Biden ( good 'ole Joe ) & the first ever female vice president Kamala Harris ( of Indian mother & a Jamaican father).

This was a truly historic moment. I had planned to attend this inauguration in Washington DC with my son & make unforgettable memories of a lifetime.. I booked a hostel dorm bed in DC (U Street Capsule Hostel ) which was the only one available as most were all sold out due to the upcoming presidential inauguration event.

Well, I had no choice but to book it as this was the closest one could get to this event. The cheaper accommodation were available in the outskirts of DC but I didn't want to drive ways out there. I already requested my days off from my manager weeks ahead & got them all.Me & my son were all agog with excitement.

I had taken him to DC when he was just 9 months old & he really wanted to see DC city. I used my airlines mileage reward to book the flights. We couldn't wait for the day to arrive.

Sadly the insurrection riots in the US Capitol building on 6th January,2021 by the former president Trump's supporters changed all of our plans to attend the presidential inauguration. The rioters were all white supremacist groups & hardcore followers of the former president who were unwilling to accept his election loss.

It was just too dangerous & not safe @ all to visit DC for the event. The unfolding events were too shocking and numbing to all of us. These kind of riots taking place in America by its own citizens against its own country was just too unthinkable and hard to accept.

Anyway, I am glad we cancelled our plans to visit the DC. My son was very disappointed but I had to encourage him that we could go there @ another opportune time in the near future.

I cant help sharing my happiness to see the new POTUS & his VP Kamala Harris being sworn in.I watched it on tv that day in bits and in between my work during my breaks. I couldn't help being emotional that day to see a woman of color rising to ranks of the second most powerful position in America.

It gave a tremendous inspiration & boost to all little girls everywhere to dream big with so much possibilities. There are so many haters out there for VP Kamala Harris. Some Christians have likened her to being "Jezebel" from the bible ( in a very bad way ).

I see no reason why they'd hate her so much. Come on folks, she has worked hard to attain this position . She is a smart woman, very well educated and knows her job well.

For us Indians, we have had the late Indira Gandhi as our female PM & even had a female president but for America, its very hard for women to attain high position as there is an unspoken strong resistance to it, just my personal point.

One can see the US Senate & the lower House has majority male politicians & they retain that power in a tight grip. Forgive me, ya'll, I am very interested in the country's affairs and cant help sharing my views.

Unfortunately, the day the new US president was sworn in , that was the day I lost my job after having worked for 5 years in that company for a reason that was related to customer service.

I had already knew it was coming for over 2 years as soon as the new head honchos took over. I was very well aware that my hard work was intimidating to others and I was subjected to unfairness (racism in the truest form ) in so many subtle ways, e.g. was given more work to do than the others, knit picked @ every opportunity & I knew it was done to get me to quit /resign or to just nudge me off so that a preferred candidate was to fill in my spot.

It was an extremely stressful & toxic work environment all around but I kept doing my job nonetheless .I guess when a door closes, another opens. I am a firm believer in that .

No time to do "Rudali " in a corner ( no self pity party ".... I am relieved though. But I can say that my conscience is clear. My hard work is my own testimony. I am not someone to feel scared to speak up nor hesitate to do so.

To my followers or well wishers, I would like to encourage you all to keep your head held high and continue to do what you are good at.


..........to be continued.....stay tuned