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Dear Uncertain America

A letter for the thrilled and frightened

Audrey Silvestro

Nov 14, 2016

Cleveland, OH

paperbirchwine.com

Dear America,

I know the world is a scary place as of right now. Uncertainty is a strong global feeling, to say the least. Countless months of ads, signs, protests, and fighting that all led to the night of November 8^th. A day that essentially was one collective nation wide panic attack. Sides were taken, comments were slung and honestly it was the most divided I have seen our country in quite some time. I know a lot of you are scared; some are thrilled to have this man leading our country. You all have every right to feel what you feel.

To those who are afraid, I understand. To the LGBTQ community, stay strong. To those who feel lesser because of their Race, Religion, Sexuality or beliefs, please, continue to be you, the strong you, the one who fights and the one who is brave. No matter what anyone says, you are valid, your feelings are valid, and your identity is valid.

In the past 24 hours I have heard versions of the phrase “I have never felt afraid to just exist until now.” And in complete honesty, I do not want to hear that ever again. You should never be afraid to live your true authentic life. This country is built on the backbone of hardworking Americans. We have fought so hard to get where we are and I don’t want to see us fall apart. We are a resilient bunch. We have come back from so much and we are built for survival.

I have heard a lot of people saying, “Love has lost.” I believe it hasn’t. And it never will. Right now it’s just hard to see. The hate America is holding onto is shadowing over our hearts. But we must revolt. We must show compassion, acceptance and change. It’s time for us to fight the bigotry and resent that has plagued our country and release it from its tightly wound fist. It is time for a revolution of love.

All I ask of you in this time of uncertainty is to love. Just. Love.

Spread love and stomp out the ashes of hate.That’s all we can do. It may seem impossible. But I know your voice is strong, and I am standing right by your side.

And if I may salute Hamilton, please, stay “young, scrappy and hungry. Just like our country.” And do not throw away your shot.

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Dear Uncertain America

A letter for the thrilled and frightened

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All names should be "unisex names."

1. Communicating via email can be awkward.

2. Appointments usually accompany weird looks.

3. Introducing yourself to someone is never without a hitch.

4. You’ve probably thought about changing your name.

5. You’re often asked why you have the name you do.

6. You get excited when you meet someone of your gender with your name.

7. You feel awkward when you meet someone of the opposite gender with your name.

8. You’ve had someone say to you, “I knew a [your name], but they were [your opposite gender].”

9. You’ve heard a bad joke/pick-up line or two about your name before.

10. People are surprised when they see you.

11. You’re extra sensitive to other unique or unisex names.

12. You’ve fought with your parents about it.

13. All things considered, you’re happy your name makes you unique.

You know that all of these things apply to you. You'll just never tell.

I get it... I'm pale.

1. At least I can't lose you in a crowd!

2. Oh my goodness your skin is like glow-in-the-dark.

3. Can't you just get fake tan?

4. Do you tan or just burn?

5. Your kids are going to look like Casper the Friendly Ghost!

6. *holds arm against your arm* Look how much darker I am compared to you!

7. *holds pale arm against another pale arm* Aw, at least you're darker than her!

8. I laid out by the pool almost every day over break!

9. I haven't used sunscreen since I was, like, five.

10. *adjusts selfie lighting to their face* Oops, where'd you go??

11. *after working out* Your face is SO red!

12. *wears white* Look! You're all one color!

13. You need to get some sun.

14. Aren't you excited for summer?

The struggle bus is real.

1. Child prodigies:

2. Hearing other musicians in the practice room next door and accepting that you will never be as talented as them:

3. That anxiety that takes over before every performance:

4. Taking a million 0 credit classes:

5. When there's a paper due the next day, but you have to attend yet another concert in order to pass a 0 credit class:

6. When your friends try to encourage you after a performance, even though you are criticizing everything in your mind:

7. Knowing that there's always that one professor during juries:

8. The oh-so-attractive band/choir uniforms:

9. Realizing that a college campus is maybe not the best atmosphere to finish your latest composition:

10. Hearing "Oh, you sing opera? I LOVE Phantom of the Opera!" for the hundredth time:

11. When people think finals week is a breeze for you.

12. When you're drowning in the stress that comes with 18+ credits (and not to mention all those 0 credit classes) and people ask you how you are:

13. When it all comes down to it, though, you know that at the end of the day, music is your passion:

Because you need it in your life.

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6. holds arm against your arm Look how much darker I am compared to you!

7. holds pale arm against another pale arm Aw, at least you're darker than her!

10. adjusts selfie lighting to their face Oops, where'd you go??

11. after working out Your face is SO red!

12. wears white Look! You're all one color!