I began this article with a funny gif from the show “The Office” in an attempt to draw and attention to an issue that is far from comical. The past two weeks have been a whirlwind of shock and fear for many, including myself, as we approach four years led by an unpredictable commander in chief.

Beyond that we have seen people defending the use of Confederate flags in the South, burning the American flag and, more locally, drawing a swastika on a communal bathroom stall.

So, to those who choose to present such hateful symbols or burn the flag of our great nation, I’d like to know why? What inspires you to place something with so much heartbreaking history on the door of a bathroom used by your hallmates and friends? What leads you to fly a symbol that stood for oppression and torture outside of your house? Whether it was a drunken act done post bar night or something that you thought would be funny and “frat” (as I have heard many people say to defend their questionable actions), it does not excuse the innate negative feelings brought about in many.

Sure, the swastika had much more of a wholesome meaning when it belonged solely to those who are Buddhist or Hindu but, to most of the modern world it is far more than that. It represents grandparents, friends and the religious freedom lost during World War II. Those who fly the Confederate flag defend it by ignoring its violent and racist past and stating that it is an act of Southern pride and patriotism when in reality it represents the greatest division and loss in American history. Burning the American flag when we are unhappy with the results of the very thing that makes America so great is no way to be proactive. Our nation's flag is the one thing that brings us together and fosters a sense of unity many may need.

It is unfortunate that it takes a culmination of events to bring forth topics of discrimination and hate but, maybe this can be a wake-up call for us. What kind of world/country/campus do we live in that leads people to uphold such negative symbols? Is it ignorance or uncertainty? Pride or disgrace toward the country? What can we do to instill the importance and significance of such historical events on both our generation and the ones to follow?

We are a nation of millions who came and stayed for the freedom and the unity that we are supposed to uphold. We are not a nation where some races or religions are superior to another. We are a country meant to be united in our similarities and differences. Be respectful towards and conscious of each other and the affects that our actions may have.