It's 2017 so you wouldn't think I'd have to thank people who love me, for supporting me in loving someone else. That's the world we live in though, so any opportunity I have to call it to everyone's attention that my parent's raised me right by loving, supporting, and standing by my side, I'll gladly take it.

I was taught to respect others, and not judge someone by their skin, ethnicity, beliefs, or gender. In doing this, I not only have a better outlook on the world, but I see the world for what it could be, and not what it'll never be. Not everyone else can say the same, and those people are more than likely ones with parent's who don't support their children in loving someone different from who they are.

I guess my initial question to these parents was, why? Why would you not show your child that loving someone will never be defined by their skin color? Why would you make children that have so much potential to do great things in this already damaged world, turn out to be like you?

Why would you not take a step back and realize you're no better than a guy who likes another guy, a black guy dating a white girl, or a Muslim wearing a hijab? One day we're all going to die, and your gravestone will look no better than theirs. The only difference is fewer people will visit, mourn, or miss the one who constantly made the world a little colder.

My next question..how? How did you grow up so hateful? Have you ever looked at a black person and thought.."Maybe I should change. Maybe I should realize that discriminating against this person for their skin color only makes me a racist..and for the rest of my life-unless I change-that is what I'll be known as..To the world, to people who know me, and even my close family and friends."

Then I resorted to...accepting it.

I realized what's wrong with our world aren't Muslims, people with different skin color, or those with unique beliefs. It's all you. The ones who won't accept that there are people in this world that won't always be like you. They might be a little taller, bigger, smaller, darker, or smarter, but at the end of the day, that's exactly what our world needs.

I thank my parent's for raising me in believing this way. For seeing the good in absolutely everyone, and welcoming any race, gender, sexuality, or religion with open arms.

Do you want to know the even better feeling? If I came home with a girl and told my parents I was gay, they wouldn't bat a damn eye. They'd welcome her into my family, set a place for her at the dinner table, and just confirm that she treated me well. They won't ask why, they won't resent me, and they surely won't disown me. They'll do exactly what parents are supposed to do and support the children they raised with their decisions.

If I came home with a black man, my dad would shake his hand, my mom would give him a hug, and my brother would ask him if he liked video games. No negative words would be exchanged, and my parents would never be ashamed. They'd be proud of me for finding someone who treated me well, and I'd be proud of myself for the very same thing.

If I came home with a Muslim, my parent's wouldn't worry he was a terrorist, they wouldn't ask him a million questions about his intentions with me and if they're worthy, they wouldn't make him feel like he didn't have a right to be in this country. They'd be happy for me and happy for him.

You see my parent's raised me well. I mean that. They raised me to be a remarkable person that see's people for who they are and not what they look like, who they like, what their gender is, or what they believe in. That is the biggest lesson my parents have taught me, and without it, I'd continue on like many others in making this world a divided, scary place.

I really want to tell my parent's thank you. I am so glad I wasn't brought up to see what racist/prejudice people see. I wouldn't want to live in a world like that. If I did? Well, I'd be the problem.

Not blacks,

Hispanics,

Indians,

Gays,

Jews,

Muslims,

or

Bisexuals,

none of them.

It would be me.

Thank you for not letting it be me.

I'd hate to be that person.