Based on the iconic Huffington Post article "I Don’t Know How To Explain To You That You Should Care About Other People," I write this almost in a state of shock. This draft has been sitting on my computer for a little over four months. Each time I come back to edit it, I have another incident to add to the ever-growing list (most recently, Trump joking about how Vice President Pence wants to hang all gay people).
I want to preface this by acknowledging my privilege. I'm white, well-off, and I go to a good school. I do face adversity as an LGBT+ woman, but recent headlines have shown me that it could be way worse. DACA, Charlottesville, and the National Anthem debate (to name a few) have shaken this country up and revealed people's true priorities. Of course, talking about these issues will come with opposing viewpoints. I fully understand and respect that each person can have their own unique opinion, but if you're only preaching hate and you have nothing positive to say, the classic quote has to be remembered:
"Respect existence or expect resistance."
We've all seen the videos circulating online — people being verbally attacked in the middle of stores for speaking with a Spanish accent or LGBT+ people holding hands with their significant other, disgusting slurs being thrown left and right at innocent people. It's sickening to watch. It makes you realize that people may disagree politically, but it also reveals a divide on how to behave, how to treat others, and generally how to be a decent person. I'm all for having debates about social issues (I'm a social work major, for crying out loud) but the minute that you imply that you don't think your fellow humans deserve food, health, education, or general safety, I instantly lose all respect for you. I genuinely don't understand how you can look someone in the eyes (or in some cases, hide behind anonymous Twitter profiles) and tell them that because of who they naturally are, they don't get to receive the same privileges that you do.
Furthermore, all these hateful acts have happened largely in part by none other than the President. Donald Trump was quoted to have said, "We condemn in the strongest possible terms this egregious display of hatred, bigotry, and violence, on many sides," as a response to the Neo-Nazis in Charlottesville, Virginia. Many disagreed with him, arguing that there is only one side of violence. He openly referred to NFL anthem protestors as "sons of bitches", and let's not forget the infamous "Grab 'em by the pussy," which I hate to even type. It disgusts me that the face of our nation is standing on the side of history that is blatantly exclusive and xenophobic.
I could go on and on about how I think we are moving in the wrong direction. If you disagree and decide to resort to calling me names including (but definitely not limited to) "triggered," "libtard," "feminazi" or "snowflake," go right ahead. You can hide behind the insults, but you're helping to dig the United States deeper and deeper into this hole we've gotten ourselves into. I have just one question for those who oppose me — why is the concept of equality so difficult to grasp?
