Before you read this article, you need to know three things about me. If any of them offend you, please stop reading now. I am a white undergraduate student, I married young, and I’m a Mormon.
In the past few months I have seen every human emotion displayed by friends, family, social media feeds, and the news regarding our Nation and its problems. Everyone thinks everyone hates everyone else and everyone has the perfect answer to our country’s problems. It’s so interesting to me how we all want a leader yet when our leader makes a decision we don’t like, we suddenly want a new one. If a child falls into an enclosure and an animal is shot to protect its life, the public suddenly knows more about the zoo and procedures than the zookeepers do. If you don’t accept the LGBT lifestyle then you must hate them and cannot be Christian. If one police officer makes a wrong choice then the whole police force must be corrupt. If you are pro-life then you must think a woman shouldn’t get to choose what to do with her body. If you don’t vote in an election then you don’t care who gets elected and therefore shouldn’t complain about new laws. If this, then that. When it’s spelled out like this it sound pretty ridiculous, right? Yet this is exactly what is happening and I have experienced many situations like these firsthand. And as many of you are, I am sick and tired of it.
What happened to America, the land of the free and the brave? The land of opportunity, wealth, and gratitude? The land built upon the very fact that God exists and we should be able to worship Him however we feel appropriate? If the founding fathers were here today, what would they say? What would those who have fought and sacrificed their time, energy, families, and even lives say now? The entitlement and apathy within our society is killing the basic fundamentals this Great Nation was built upon. And it is slowly, but surely, destroying us. United we stand, divided we fall right?
And yet, we are divided. The police shootings last Thursday evening have proven just that. Trevor Noah from the Daily Show has articulated what I am getting at so perfectly, “If you’re pro-Black Lives Matter, you’re assumed to be anti-police, and if you’re pro-police, then you surely hate black people, when in reality, you can be pro-cop and pro-black, which is what we should all be.” Are there cops who don’t do their job, yes. Are there black individuals who don’t uphold the law, yes. Yet the opposite is also true. Targeting either side simply divides our Nation and brings us that much closer to tearing ourselves apart.
While Facebook surfing Friday morning, I came across a post from Sandra King, an incredibly kind and selfless woman from my home town, whose post expresses how far backward our Nation has gone. With her permission, I would like to share part of it with you.
“As a black woman, it hurts me when I am told that racism does not exist because you yourself do not see the color of my skin…When you tell me that you don't see color, that's great and I believe you. However, the person standing next to you does see the color of my skin and at times it may make them uncomfortable.
As a black woman, it hurts me when another black man or woman criticizes me for being married to a white man. Before you meet my husband, you hear all these wonderful things that I've told you about him. After you meet him, you ask me why I didn’t tell you that my husband was white. I didn't say anything because I always refer to him as my husband, not the white guy.
As a black woman, it hurts me when you refer to black men as being thugs, lazy, gangbangers, etc. I have two sons that are black. At a moments notice, they are willing to put their lives on the line for you. They are both currently serving in the United States Army.
As a black woman, it hurts me when my level of "blackness" is questioned because I'm conservative and choose to vote that way. I'm probably the most down to earth sistah that you will ever meet. I'm proud of the skin that I'm in. It's beautiful, it's caramel and it will make an educated vote this upcoming election."
Speaking of the election, hear me clearly; isn't it funny that a few days ago we were so outraged that a presidential candidate got away with lying to the FBI? We as a nation once again was exposed for all the world to see. Call me a conspiracy theorist, but have you ever heard of martial law. What would happen to our election this year if martial law was put in place?
We better unite as American citizens before we fall divided at the hands of our enemies.
Many of us, myself included until recently, believe such issues do not concern us as we are far away from the conflict. Yet so much of it hits home with those we love and care about. America is the country who has stepped in when human lives are in danger – what’s different this time? Simply that this time it’s on our own soil?
While the example I have chosen is more of a hot topic today, I want you to remember this is not the only people who are feeling targeted in our nation. Blacks are being targeted in ways many of us couldn’t have foreseen. The LGBT community feels they still aren’t being heard to the extent they feel they should be. Women are looking for more in regards to equality. Christians are being attacked on every front. As I said earlier, I am a white undergraduate student, I married young, and I’m a Mormon. While many tell me I have no right to take a stand on such topics I feel they are so very wrong. I have ancestors who have experienced injustice and their lives have paved the way for many of us across this Nation to be able to enjoy our freedoms. Those of you who haven’t spoken out against the hate and division this Nation is experiencing, speak out. Hate cannot dissipate hate, only love can.
I believe all men and women have the right to worship however, wherever, and whatever they wish and please. I believe that as we are under the rule of our president, we each have an obligation to obey, honor, and sustain the law. I also believe, though, that one’s right to do one thing should not injure another. I believe in speaking up for those who are under fire from outside and within. After all, we are all apart of the same family.
