America 1982-Chapter 554 - 114: Heavy Bomb
Eliana Leti and Jeff Raven, emerging as the leading candidates from their respective primary races, faced each other for the first time in a televised debate that was filled with tension.
The moderator at the scene announced tonight’s debate theme, which was, unsurprisingly, the racial relations within the Eighteenth District.
After all, the Eighteenth District seemed on the verge of cleavage, as the district’s Cuban-Americans were growing increasingly fearful due to the veterans coming from all over Florida to support Jeff, causing a stir.
In the days leading up to the debate, every day more than a hundred veterans would drive to Little Havana in the Southern District, which was unrelated to the Eighteenth District. They waved the American flag and brandished banners with Jeff Raven’s portrait, loudly shouting his campaign slogans through the streets. However, this time, no Cubans tried to beat up these veterans, as they had once done to Martin’s brothers.
That was because the veterans’ vehicles were adorned with hunting rifles, and the aggressive excitement on their faces seemed as though they were waiting for Cubans to come looking for trouble, to afford them an opportunity to claim self-defense in a shooting.
Add to that a large contingent of police cars sent from the Miami Police Department, accompanied by helicopters circling overhead, one could only say that the tourism revenue in Little Havana had plummeted over these few days.
The PBS moderator turned to Eliana Leti at this point: "Ms. Letty, regarding how to handle the racial relations in the Eighteenth District, why do you think you are a better choice for the people of this district compared to your opponent?"
Donning a striking red uniform dress, Eliana Leti smiled as she adjusted the microphone before her, speaking calmly and deliberately, 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮
"Thank you, moderator, and thank you to all the viewers tonight, and to my opponent, Mr. Jeff Raven. Regarding this question, I want to say that I am a person of color, I am Cuban-American. Because I am a person of color, I have experienced discrimination from white people; because I am a Cuban-American immigrant, I have been humiliated by white people. I understand the trials that Cuban-Americans, Hispanics, Latin Americans, and African Americans in this district have gone through. I have experienced it firsthand, and I am running for office to completely eradicate the scourge of racial discrimination in the Eighteenth District. I aim to become the first Cuban-American female representative of this district, to ensure that all people of color can walk the streets with dignity, and that everyone can equally enjoy the sunshine of Miami. I don’t think it’s a very difficult multiple-choice question for the voters of this district to decide whether to choose me or Mr. Jeff Raven. Who can really understand the pain of racial discrimination you experience? Who can devise various plans, policies, and put them into action? Clearly, it’s me. It wouldn’t be Mr. Jeff Raven, as a white man, telling you he understands the pain of racial discrimination. I hope that in this election, I can win your support to truly achieve equality and freedom in the Eighteenth District. Thank you."
Her statement was rather cautious, devoid of any attacks or sarcasm, mainly expressing her stance neatly from the first question that she would only target people of color as her main supporters in the Eighteenth District, and of course, that mainly meant to draw in the votes of Cuban supporters of Rona Kennedy from the Democratic Party, who were persisting although their chances were fading.
Moreover, the President had flown in not long ago to support her and had attended a campaign rally with her. Seeing her rise in prominence, indeed many former Cuban supporters of Rona had turned their support to her.
After all, for most ordinary Cuban-Americans, political parties didn’t matter; what was important was having a compatriot elected.
The moderator then looked towards Jeff Raven, clad in camouflaged attire: "Mr. Jeff Raven, regarding how to handle the racial relations in the Eighteenth District, why do you think you are a better choice for the people of this district compared to your opponent? How do you view Ms. Letty’s remarks?"
"Because Cubans prefer to be governed by white people, I am compelled to stand as a candidate. That’s the answer," said Jeff Raven, not even glancing at his opponent and maintaining a stern face towards the camera.
"Countless Cubans flee to the United States. Is it because the American people elected a Cuban-American as President? Of course not, because then they might as well stay in Cuba and look at Castro’s face. They do it because they envy the countless marvels that great Americans have created on this land. Just now, Ms. Eliana Leti spoke of her harrowing experiences with racial discrimination in America, almost moving me to tears with her sobs. I was so touched that I wanted to comfort her by saying, ’If America is so terrible for you, why not go back to Cuba? I’d be willing to personally buy you a ticket back to Cuba!’"
"It’s the same for other Cuban-American immigrants. If America is really as bad as you describe, filled with racial discrimination, violence, crime, and all kinds of unpleasantness, why don’t you return to your true homeland? Why don’t you build it with your own hands and make it as great as America? You might say it’s because of Castro’s brutality and ferocity, among other things. Alright, let me tell you what we did when we faced the same problems on this land: we declared independence, we overthrew England’s brutal rule, and we succeeded!"
"Ms. Eliana Leti is certainly an outstanding woman. The multiple-choice question she posed was excellent: a white American who has been settled here for generations, whose family has fought for this country, versus a Cuban-American woman who fled in 1969 because she was afraid to overthrow Castro. Deciding who to choose to change the Eighteenth District isn’t a real puzzle for the voters. Let me put it this way, if America were to go to war, you can always trust that Jeff Raven would be the first veteran in the Eighteenth District to return to the battlefield. As for the other candidate, she would have probably already chosen her next beloved homeland. Thank you all, thank you, moderator, I have finished speaking."
