Don’t You Dare.

 

*for those of you who have come to expect humor from this blog, this post is ANYTHING but humor.

Don’t You Dare…

Don’t you dare think that what happened in Virginia two days ago, and frankly, what happens every day in this country, is part of “the right” of being an American.

Don’t you dare try to hide behind the freedom to express opinions and practice one’s beliefs.

Don’t you dare try to use parts of the Constitution and Bill of Rights as a defense for Saturday’s events (that is a whole different post, considering the age of each of those documents).

Don’t you dare try to pretend that what happened Saturday is anything other than hate, hate and more hate. It is pure racism. Pure bigotry. Absolutely disgusting. Absolutely sickening.

Let’s be clear…

An opinion may be that Boston is a better town then New York City. An opinion may be that the beaches at the Gulf of Mexico are far better than those on the North Carolina coast. An opinion may be that coconut shavings are delicious.

A belief might be that Jesus is the Messiah. A belief might be that Allah is the only God. A belief might be that there is no higher power.

Part of being an American is the freedom to choose what you like or don’t like and what you believe or don’t believe, and to do so without prosecution or persecution.

But if you “believe” or it is your “opinion” that white people are better, or that those in the LGBT community are horrible, or that the regime Hitler intended to rule with is the way to go – I WANT TO KNOW WHY.

Why do you believe white people are better? Tell me. How are they better? Have you ever MET a non-white person? Have you somehow surrounded yourself with only white humans? Can a person of color not do the same things white people can do? What is it that white people do better? Other than be serial killers…

Why do you care who someone else loves? Tell me. How does it affect your life AT ALL if Lisa loves Lois? If Dan wants to dress like Danielle? How is this any of your business?

Why do you care if someone is of a different faith? If David does not believe that Jesus was the Son of God? So what? How is that impacting your everyday life?

Where the hell do you get off spewing hate? Has Lisa or Dan or David hurt you in some way?  What have they done to you that you are so hateful you carry a flag with the Swastika? Do you even KNOW what that represents? Hundreds of thousands of innocent men, women and CHILDREN cooked alive in gas chambers, starved to death. What has happened to you in your life that you think the symbol of those practices is something to be carried proudly?

Three people died on Saturday – one was an innocent woman trying to keep the Nazi’s & friends at bay, to convince them that hate is not the way to live. Two officers gave their lives while trying to help keep the situation under control (and for the record, one of them was an uncle to a young woman I know- so yeah, that stings a little more).

And as for the President, I’m curious as to the many “sides” responsible for Saturday’s tragedy.  Who are those sides? Is he implying that those on the “side” of peace, love, non-hate, were somehow at fault? The young woman who was in the path of a hateful human being driving a weapon – she’s at fault?  Don’t hide behind the Nazi’s “right to a peaceful protest”  – because really? What the HELL is peaceful about what they want? Don’t imply that the woman who died, who was part of the group rallying against hate, brought on her own death. So again, who Mr. President, are these “sides?” Why are you so hesitant to condemn such hatred?

And now the big question. What do we do? How do we spread love and not hate? How do we stop this passing on of hate from one generation to the other? I’m a white woman who lives in the South. And while on most days I see more and more growth and acceptance to those of different faiths, colors or lifestyles, I still see far too many bars & stars and hear the “N Word” way too much.

I can write these words all day long, from the safety of my home with the computer I’m able to afford. But we all know actions speak louder than words. So what do I do that makes a difference? What actions do I take? I’m at a loss. Sure, I can march and join protests – but other than making the news, do those things cause any actual change?

The one thing I KNOW I can do is teach. Teach by actions and by words. Teach my child to be open and accepting. To not allow her for one single second to pass judgement on anyone different than her.  But is that enough?

I’m tired. I’m sad. I’m angry. Most days I honestly struggle with being an American, because right now, I’m not sure we can be proud of anything. And that, my friends, is simply heartbreaking.