Harin Contractor, Washington Leadership Program class of 2002. He interned with Democratic National Committee (DNC).

I’m only 21 years old and already I have heard far too many stories and known far too many of my peers who have lost one or both of their parents due to murder at their place of business.

It is heartbreaking to see a friend of yours or to hear about someone in your community who has lost a loved one. But sadly enough, many of us know the story of that guy in the motel, who was shot and killed at 2 a.m., or that desi gas station owner who was killed, or even that kid who just came from India two weeks ago who was murdered while he was working the register of the local liquor store: all trying to achieve the ‘American Dream.’

Our community is looked upon as the model of the ‘American Dream.’ My parents, as so many other parents of those in my generation, came here with $8 in their pocket. They now have that white picket fenced house and a brand new Toyota in the driveway.

How did they do this? You know the answer very well: hard work, lots of sacrifices, and doing whatever is best for the children. Many Indian-Americans chose to achieve the ‘American Dream’ by owning a small business. My family was one of those.

Sometimes we take it for granted, our business becomes part of our everyday life. But every child in my situation knows that

feeling that’s in the back of our minds; the thought of the unthinkable, the thought that I could come home from school and find out that my mother was killed while she was at work.

I thank God everyday that both my parents are alive and well. Unfortunately that is not the case with too many of my friends and peers. We all know the stories and we all try to sympathize with the families affected by such tragedies but there is something more our community can do.

For instance, what if those motel owners met with the local sheriff or local town officials about safety concerns. The job of the local government is to address our concerns. That is partly why we pay our taxes. If that doesn’t seem to work then one could take it a step further and donate to the political campaign of the candidate running or county sheriff or mayor. They are obviously more willing to address your issues if you invest in their candidacy.

Just think, what if the local police patrolled or stopped by that motel or that gas station everyday? That is how many immigrant groups such as the Italian, Jewish, and Korean-Americans did it before us.

Of course random acts of violence are not going to stop. But I for one am tired of seeing my friend cry at the funeral of his late father who was shot at their gas station.

I’m tired of hearing about murders at a hotel in rural Mississippi or shootings at the convenience store in Jackson Heights, NY. But if having that police patrol come to that business everyday because Indian Americans demanded it and if that prevents one murder, then it’s worth it.

This does not only pertain to small business owners but to our community as a whole. If you did not see the need to be active or aware about politics before, I hope you see the relevance of politics in our everyday lives now.