Look at your hands. What do you see?

When I look at my hands, I see soft skin, that has not had to work as hard as many others to make ends meet. I see white skin, that has never been used to discriminate against me. I also see hands that want to do something in this world. I see hands that want to be used to make a difference.

Right now, our country is reaching new heights in division and hate. Everyday on the news, we see mosques being burned, messages of racial hatred being shouted at minorities, people of different faiths being held against their will in airports, and women slowly having their rights stripped away from them. It is so easy to pretend these atrocities are happening far away. It is so simple for those of unaffected to turn off the TV and go back to living our normal lives.

I’m not Muslim. I’m not a minority. I was privileged to be born into a family where I’ve never really had to want for anything. I have always been encouraged to express my opinions and educate myself. Many of the horrible things happening in my country right now do not affect me and probably won’t affect me at all. But all that means is that now, more than ever, I have to use my voice to speak up for those whose voices are being silenced.

Look at your hands. Are you using them for good? Are you using them to fight against injustice or are you keeping them at your side? Are you using them to help people in need, even those who are different from you - or are your hands still tied?

In one hundred years, when the events of today start being recorded in the history books, it’s the people that used their hands to make a difference that will be remembered as the heros. As for the ones who used their voices to spout hate, or worse, said nothing at all - well, history will not be as kind to these people.

So ask yourself. What are you doing right now to make a difference? What side of history do you want to be remembered on? Look at your hands. What do you see?