Letter to Editor | The privilege of casting a vote

||| FROM HYO RHI KIM |||

I am writing to voice my support for Cindy Wolf for San Juan County Council representing District 2. Cindy is creative while practical, and would meet the economic, social, and ecological challenges of the county with deep care. What makes her stand out as a candidate to me is that the reach of her care extends far out to marginalized members of the community. When she speaks of the “public,” she is including Black, Indigenous, People of Color, low-income families and individuals, people without documents, children and many who are underrepresented or hindered from having a political voice.

Cindy has shown me that she sees what is largely rendered invisible. As a person of color, I frequently weather the forces of racism embedded in the culture and structures of our society, including here on our island home. Structural violence can go unnoticed as it may seem innocuous, and the shape and level of impact are elusive to people who do not experience the
harm firsthand. Even the labor of making these experiences legible takes a toll on people of color.

I was once walking listlessly in a compromised state from experiences of the kind racism that is invisible to most. Cindy, who was merely an acquaintance at that time, stopped me in my tracks saying, “Are you alright? I can tell something happened. Would you mind sharing?” She knew that something was seriously off, and she had the perceptiveness to inquire, when most people would feel afraid and allow their discomfort to prevent them from asking. Cindy did not
personalize what I was experiencing and saw it as the communal, societal issue it was, and is.

That time and any time afterwards, whenever I recounted woes related to racism, I have never had to explain to Cindy why something is racist. She picks up on the most subtle ways an injustice or unhealthy power dynamic is at play, and responds appropriately without interrupting or turning it into an opportunity to display self-righteousness. Her humility, acknowledgement that she may not grasp the full reality of racism, and her self-awareness about her own position of privilege give me many reasons to trust her. In every Zoom meeting committed to antiracism efforts that I have attended, Cindy is present and engaged. She is someone who will strive to truly see, listen, know the needs of the county and respond with action. We need people like Cindy Wolf to hold public office positions – people who have the courage to see themselves and their community members fully, who do everything they can to dismantle oppressive structures, and who are not afraid to be held accountable.

In addition to endorsing Cindy Wolf, I would like to add a few words to encourage people to participate in this national and local election. This year, I will be voting as a U.S. citizen for the first time. Much of my life, including the wait time to get U.S. citizenship, was influenced by the decisions other citizens made. The United States, and our local community, are made up of many peoples; while not all are U.S. citizens, all are valuable members of society and are highly impacted by policies shaped by elected officials We must also remember citizens whose voting rights are suppressed due to racism.

Being able to vote and have one’s voice count in the collective decision-making process is a privilege, one which I ask my fellow citizens to hold with care.