An Open Letter To Tomi Lahren
Start writing a post
Politics and Activism

An Open Letter To Tomi Lahren

My response to Tomi Lahren's tweet comparing #BlackLivesMatter to the KKK.

16
An Open Letter To Tomi Lahren
Huffington Post

Dear Tomi Lahren,

Let me start by saying that I know very little about you. I haven't watched your show, and quite honestly, I don't intend to. That being said, I feel no shame in saying that I have no respect for you, and I sincerely doubt I ever will. Why? Because you felt the need to compare advocates for human rights to violent white supremacists.

Quite honestly, I think that it is appalling that you felt the need to spread this message, which is one of ignorance and hatred. We live in a society where fear is everywhere. Tragedy flashes across our screens every single day, and the media has power. You, like many, have decided to broadcast hate-filled opinions, instead of messages of acceptance. You have used tragedy to enforce your own hate filled ideas instead of calling it what it was -- a senseless act of violence.

However, since you want to talk about the KKK, let's talk about them. Let's talk about a group of people who have been described as a military force for white supremacy. They are vile, ignorant, evil people. They have massacred families. They have burned AfricanAmerican neighborhoods. They have fought to keep black children out of schools. They have tried to stop any social progress. Perhaps you sat down and did some actual research, and realized you had made a mistake and that's why you took down your tweet. Or maybe, once you realized there was a petition -- with a fair amount of support -- to have you fired, you realized that you had gone too far. However, given your previous record of posting discriminatory messages, that seems unlikely to me. The fact remains that I have not seen and do not expect to see any evidence that proves your point. I don't expect Black Lives Matter advocates to lynch anyone and then display their bodies for the public. I don't expect to see any of the heinous violence committed by the KKK carried out by Black Lives Matter advocates. This is a very different movement, and if you had an ounce of understanding of what it is you were reporting, then you would have realized that.

You said that you had a right to your opinion, and technically you do. But that makes you no less wrong in this case. You're inaccuracy has the potential to breed ignorance, and ignorance breeds fear. Maybe you do have the right to your opinion, but you have people that follow you and look to you and you don't deserve that when you clearly don't even know what it is you are talking about. History is important to me, it always has been. I am a firm believer that we can learn from it so long as we pay attention. As a reporter, I wish you believed this also. Media is part of our history that will one day be studied. Maybe you deleted your tweet, but do you think that it disappeared? It didn't. It will be out there, for people to accept as fact and to use to back up their own fearful, hate-filled arguments against a group of people who are fighting for equality, not supremacy.

I can't emphasize just how much anger I have towards you. You, like so many others have abused your position. You've used it to spread a message that represents a step backwards, not forwards. The KKK is a stain on our history. They are a violent, radical white supremacists group who hated for no reason other than ignorance and the idea that they were somehow better than others. Black Lives Matter is a movement for peace and equality. It is our job to be able to distinguish between the two. It is your job to inform the public with accuracy. There is nothing wrong with being opinionated and hard-headed, I know I am. But there is something wrong with making blatantly ignorant statements, being told repeatedly that they were blatantly ignorant and crossed a line, and yet still attempting to justify it with the argument that you have the right to you opinion.

You do have the right to your opinion, as do I. My opinion of you right now is pretty low. The difference between us is that I have facts to back my opinion up. You clearly don't.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
the beatles
Wikipedia Commons

For as long as I can remember, I have been listening to The Beatles. Every year, my mom would appropriately blast “Birthday” on anyone’s birthday. I knew all of the words to “Back In The U.S.S.R” by the time I was 5 (Even though I had no idea what or where the U.S.S.R was). I grew up with John, Paul, George, and Ringo instead Justin, JC, Joey, Chris and Lance (I had to google N*SYNC to remember their names). The highlight of my short life was Paul McCartney in concert twice. I’m not someone to “fangirl” but those days I fangirled hard. The music of The Beatles has gotten me through everything. Their songs have brought me more joy, peace, and comfort. I can listen to them in any situation and find what I need. Here are the best lyrics from The Beatles for every and any occasion.

Keep Reading...Show less
Being Invisible The Best Super Power

The best superpower ever? Being invisible of course. Imagine just being able to go from seen to unseen on a dime. Who wouldn't want to have the opportunity to be invisible? Superman and Batman have nothing on being invisible with their superhero abilities. Here are some things that you could do while being invisible, because being invisible can benefit your social life too.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

19 Lessons I'll Never Forget from Growing Up In a Small Town

There have been many lessons learned.

71335
houses under green sky
Photo by Alev Takil on Unsplash

Small towns certainly have their pros and cons. Many people who grow up in small towns find themselves counting the days until they get to escape their roots and plant new ones in bigger, "better" places. And that's fine. I'd be lying if I said I hadn't thought those same thoughts before too. We all have, but they say it's important to remember where you came from. When I think about where I come from, I can't help having an overwhelming feeling of gratitude for my roots. Being from a small town has taught me so many important lessons that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

Keep Reading...Show less
​a woman sitting at a table having a coffee
nappy.co

I can't say "thank you" enough to express how grateful I am for you coming into my life. You have made such a huge impact on my life. I would not be the person I am today without you and I know that you will keep inspiring me to become an even better version of myself.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

133438
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments