I woke-up Saturday morning feeling good. I fed the Max Man, checked my email and decided to what’s happening on Twitter. Instantly, my face fell and my heart gasped in pain. I could not compute the scenes of violence coming out of Charlottesville of handsome, young white men with tiki lights blazing as they screamed hateful epithets. Had I gone back in time?
But I had not. It was 2017 and hate was in full force Friday night and Saturday. It made me sad, frightened and most of all — deeply angry.
I won’t lie that a part of me wanted to curl back into bed and pretend this never happened. But that makes me part of the problem and complicit in my silence. And I will NOT be complicit to hate.
I Must Not Tell Lies
While I have not fully processed this weekend’s events, I wanted to speak two clear truths:
1. Christians Need to Speak Up NOW Against Racism
I am Christian. You may be one too or you may have different faith than me. And that’s okay by me. I believe in religion freedom, which means I respect your right to celebrate your God or no God at all. I also believe that most religions can be twisted to support hate. But true Christians know Jesus was not an advocate of hate or white superiority/purity. Jesus ran to help the poor, the suffering and the persecuted, regardless of skin color or past mistakes. He offered hope and forgiveness to all, not just to white people. White people don’t own Christianity. It is a faith that sustains and gives hope to many people of every color.
Christians must take a stand against white supremacists who use Christianity as cover for their hate. Or we are no better.
2. Republicans Who Don’t Want to Be Branded a Racist Need to Speak Out
I am not a Republican but I do have friends and family members who are. Who are also not racist twits either. And if you are a Republican and don’t want your party be known as the Party of Hate, then you MUST SPEAK UP because the leader of your party will not (his lack of condemnation makes them so happy too). He has spent the past year dog whistling to them, exploiting their worst fears and placed white supremacists in senior positions in the White House. It makes me absolutely furious that the party of ABRAHAM LINCOLN insults his memory by allowing white supremacists, the KKK and neo-Nazi’s to sully his party and our great country.
Republicans must make it clear that white supremacists and hate are not welcome to their political party. And more than the standard claptrap about how awful bigotry is. They must say white supremacy is wrong and bad and not welcome here. Or the grand ‘ol party will forever become the Party of Hate.
Angry. Fearful. But Not Broken
I am mad. I am scared. But I also am aware of a few hard truths.
- While white supremacists have become more empowered and emboldened under Emperor Baby Fists, they still remain a small group. A very vocal and visible one but still small in numbers. We must make sure this remains true.
- The outrage has not only been overwhelming but also includes more than just minority groups. People of every color and creed have spoken against the hateful actions of a few and stand against them.
- Most tyrants use hate and fear to stay in power. But they also know the secret truth: It’s limited power because people rise up eventually. And crush them.
I will always shine a light on hate because hate only thrives in darkness and fear. Light and knowledge destroy it. So speak up and let others know that you, too, stand united against hate and those who use it to spread fear.
Tanya
Sadly, I have spent all weekend (week) in the hospital & I totally have no clue on what happened… I didnt realize how disconnected you could be to the world sometimes… I’m just starting to catch up on it. & so heart broken. This world … where is it going?
You had much bigger priorities last weekend, Rebecca Jo! Some days I’m not sure where the world is going. And it makes me sad.
I find the comparisons between the current establishment and Nazi Germany chilling. I don’t believe Trump is intelligent to deliberately cultivate that kind of genocidal fervor, but I do think he could allow it to happen accidentally, by not understanding the gravity of his actions. He’s a fucking moron and definitely currying favor with the ignorant and hateful. I’ve seen a couple blog posts that remind us of the percentages of various demographics who voted for him and for the life of me I cannot understand how so many white women voted for him. It hurts so much.
Seeing those Nazi and Confederate flags was so chilling. I truly felt transported back in time and it was not a good feeling at all. His ego and impulsiveness and inability to see and think long-term are doing grave harm. I honestly was shocked by how many white women voted for him as well. I can only hope: lesson learned.
The idea of Jesus being a white supremacy advocate is borderline comical. THE MAN LIVED IN THE MIDDLE EAST. Jesus WASN’T white. All the more reason I can’t wrap my head around “Christian” racism…
I have many republican family members and I am going to make them aware that I need them to drawn a thick, bold, decisive line between themselves and these hateful racist cockroaches that call themselves alt-right or republicans. Republicans need to take back their party, show their true colors and pick up a swastika, or jump ship on that party. Silence isn’t an option.
I don’t understand Christian racism either or how so many pastors, in particular, stay silent. It’s appalling and insulting. Republicans do need to take back their party because I don’t believe every (or even many) Republicans are white supremacists but that may become their party if they stay silent.
I can’t even comprehend what is going on right now. And now what this man has said today, totally repudiating what he said yesterday… I am angry and numb at the same time, does that make sense? Ugh…
I was just flabbergasted when I saw that press conference. Jaw on the floor. And yes, I was in the same boat – numb and angry and sick and tired of this crap.