Reject hatred, embrace love
It’s heartbreaking to hear the racist rhetoric coming from the White House. Trump’s recent attacks on the American Somali community are disgraceful. The table-pounding and applauding by his cabinet should give every freedom loving American the chills. Where are the leaders who are willing to defend the values of liberty and equality that have been the promise and endeavor of our nation for 250 years?
Betting on the racial hatred of the majority has been a winning hand many times in our history. Slavery, lynching, genocide, interment camps, and murder and destruction of marginalized communities are all aspects of a history we risk repeating if we don’t own up to our own fears and prejudices and call out those who traffic in hatred.
Do you want to live in a society of hatred and injustice, hoping not be harmed, or do you want to live in a society that honors, respects, and celebrates humanity?
The current administration is drawing lines to preserve their power and influence. Those who continue to support this administration are complicit in spreading hatred. Even Democrats in power who don’t speak up in support of the marginalized communities being attacked by the President are complicit. In reality we all are complicit in the violence and hatred that assails us now by virtue of how we have managed our constitutional democracy. There is no other country we can blame. We all are the problem. Our tendency toward fear and hatred has led us here.
The genius of a constitutional democracy is that it provides a peaceful way forward if we are willing to recognize our collective responsibility. Over 250 years we have made progress in the claim that “all men are created equal.” We have amended our constitution, written laws, and made policy to protect each other from our baser instincts. The present moment is especially challenging but it also provides a great opportunity to go further, to repair the trauma we’ve inflicted and share the blessings of liberty. We must reject the hatred and division of the current administration and be guided by love and understanding.