2015 has been a year full of news. As I listened to every headline, I was often amazed by our world. We have made strides in technology, strides in medicine, strides in politics, but as the year progressed on and the news became heavier and heavier, I realized that though we have progressed as a society in a material aspect we have made no strides in our humanity. The atrocities that have happened to our global community this year should be one's we all learn from. However sometimes, wrong doings are difficult to understand because they do not affect us directly. S, here's to hoping that the Santa's feeling extra giving this year as I write.
My Christmas wish list for Americans.
1. I wish everyone realized they have a purpose.
The American Psychological Association recently released a study that shows that teen stress Levels in 2015 rival those of their adult counterparts. Stress is a segue that leads to a variety of other detriments such as depression, anxiety, and suicide. Rates of all three aforementioned mental illnesses are on the rise, and as a united front we must work to making sure that those who are affected get the treatment they need. Break the stigma against mental illness.
2. I wish small-town unemployment rates would not be higher than the national average.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the national average for unemployment is five percent, however compared to said national average, rural areas such as my hometown in eastern Kentucky face an average of 7.8 percent unemployment. These small towns hold families, values, and traditions that are being directly affected by the red tape in Washington D.C. We're a hardworking bunch -- but only if you'll let us!
3. I wish healthcare was available for all.
The United States is currently the only developed nation that doesn't have a universal healthcare system. While, I know that Obamacare was a step in the right direction, many legislators are in the works to abolish it. Putting aside ego's health care -- no matter who designed the plan -- is an incredibly important good that should be available for Americans. Instead it's turned into a business of denied insurance claims, and overpriced procedures. We are currently in the top deviation of "Most Unhealthy Nations" in the world. So this needs to change ASAP.
4. I wish everyone has a place to call home.
In the U.S., alone, there are over 570,000 homeless people. These individuals fall under a variety of categories from veterans to unaccompanied youth. The U.S. has the funding and ability to provide housing for such individuals, yet fails to do so.
I'd also like to extend this wish to the thousands of refugees around the world who are escaping persecution and are finding difficulty to find homes. As a global community, I wish that we would view these individuals as someone's mom, dad, son, grandfather etc., rather than Syrian, Egyptian, Iranian, etc. Our common thread is that we are human, so I wish we would show some humanity.
5. I wish no one would have to feel unsafe in public places.
From the numerous mass shootings this year all of which have taken place in a public setting, I wish more than anything that the violence would end. Whether this means enacting more screening to get firearms, or to censor purchases of weapons; the senseless killing needs to stop. I don't want gun's out of the right hands, but instead wish for a world where they weren't necessary to prove power. Whether this wish be for American cities like Aurora, Colo., which faced the terrorism of the movie theater shooter, places like Paris that lost innocent lives on Nov. 13, or for all underrepresented areas that battle political instability, gang violence, etc. I wish that families have the opportunities to enjoy parks, museums, concerts without fear of disaster.
6. I wish those who are given the power to protect do so fairly.
In 2013, we heard the cries of many as the Trayvon Martin case was brought into the public eye. Regardless of where you stood, it was a sad thing to hear that a young man had died -- what brought more outrage was the fact that the individual responsible for his death was a Neighborhood Watch officer appointed by the police department. This case lead to further sensitivities that put police brutality as a forerunner for political activism. As a nation, we are blessed to have those devoted to protecting us, however there are instances where people in power don't handle it properly. For those reasons, I wish that those who are given the position to be role models, do so properly.
7. I wish people would have the freedom to make decisions regarding their bodies without judgement.
The recent attack at the Planned Parenthood Office shocked many due to it's severity. However, attacks like these aren't a unique happening. Regardless of where you stand on a religious spectrum, an individual's beliefs should be kept separate from the law. Our nation was founded on the liberty to escape religious persecution, and while we all have our own personal beliefs I strongly wish that an individual would not become social Pariah's based on what they decided to do to their bodies.
8. I Wish That We Would Realize That Not All Bad People Look The Same.
My mom always told me that there are two types of people in the world:
1. Good
2. Bad.
All other classification were irrelevant because stripped of our labels we are humans. We decided whether we want to be good or bad. This is an ideology that really should be adopted in this day and age. The prejudice and ignorance that minorities have to face is disturbing. These archaic beliefs keep society from progressing towards acceptance. I wish that we would look past the colors, sexualities, and ethnicities and realize that we are all one.
While, I'll be speedy in getting this wish list mailed to the North Pole for Santa to review, I encourage all of us to work towards doing out part in fulfilling some of these wishes. After all, we wouldn't want to end up on the Naughty list, right?
