The events of the past week have left me speechless. As I sit here typing, trying to find a way to reconcile all the hatred that has consumed our country, I know deep down there is nothing I can say that will neutralize it. Yet, here I am trying to do so. Trying to spread some hope in a time when we need it desperately.
In the words of the fallen Heather Heyer, "if you’re not outraged, you’re not paying attention”. These words could not ring truer today, there is no conscionable defense for the appalling display of hate that took place in Charlottesville, and even less so for the President's weak response.
It sounds silly for me to ask "why can't we all just get along?" when there is such blatant polarization, which I'm not saying is unjustified, yet the question seems futile. But is it really?
Is it really too much for me to ask for people to drop their prejudices and realize that we all live in the same country, follow the same laws, and salute the same flag regardless of how some of us may view others? None of the hatred and reprehensible behavior has any effect on the simple fact that at the end of the day we are all Americans.
So, why can't we act like it? I wish I could answer that question. I wish I could understand what drives some people to believe they are superior to others simply because of their skin color or national origin. I wish I could tell every single person who feels like they're being targeted or discriminated against that I stand with them against hate and injustice. But that won't fix our problem.
What will help, is for us to recognize that hatred and bigotry are intolerable behaviors, that we as a nation must stand against. Even if you're not the one being targeted, you, as a fellow countryman, still have the responsibility to stand in solidarity with your brothers and sisters who are. I know I do. And I hope that this inspires anyone reading this to do the same.
Silence is just as bad as indifference if you're staying quiet you're tolerating hate. Speak up, loudly, and while one voice might not make a difference, many will.
