In this time, about to usher in President Elect Donald Trump as our president, it has occurred to me that we are literally making history. We made history in the previous election with the first African American president, and now we are making history by electing a man who has been documented making sexual assault jokes, racist comments, and just overall being a gross person. In spite of that, he is the president, and I pray that through him, God’s will be done for our nation. Donald Trump isn’t the only historical occurrence in the making, either. |
Within the past few years, the Black Lives Matter movement has become very prolific. Some people still believe that the victims of police brutality deserved to die or that it was somehow justified. We live in a free country, so I don't understand why the law should be an "obey or die" situation. Feminism is also a huge issue right now. Women compose only 24% of STEM employees. We still have members of society that think of women as objects and not people. It's still not taken seriously when men are sexually assaulted. We have people afraid of other religions, forgetting that freedom of religion is what this country was founded over. Our world has come a long way, but it still has a long way to go. Those with different sexualities still face persecution. Even if you disagree with the way someone lives their life, is that any reason to forgo kindness?
What's the solution to these issues? SPEAK UP. Do not let people objectify women in conversation or make jokes about rape. Do not let your coworker make a racist quip to you, lighthearted though it may seem. Speak to the woman wearing a hijab on the elevator with you and try to learn something new. Invite your neighbors over for dinner despite the fact that they look different than you. Do not be fooled by ignorant people thinking only of themselves; hold them to a higher standard.
In twenty years my children will ask me about these events. In fifty years my grandchildren will read about them in their history books. We read about the "greats" that stood up for injustice, like MLK, Rosa Parks, and Susan B. Anthony. What we don't directly hear about are the little people. The people like you and me who lead ordinary lives on one side or another of an issue. There are tens of thousands that changed the world through their actions both small and large. If the ordinary and unnamed had not followed behind these leaders, they wouldn't have been leaders at all.
So, keeping in mind that one day you will be sitting in a rocking chair discussing these things with your grandkids, I have a question for you: which side of history are you on?
What's the solution to these issues? SPEAK UP. Do not let people objectify women in conversation or make jokes about rape. Do not let your coworker make a racist quip to you, lighthearted though it may seem. Speak to the woman wearing a hijab on the elevator with you and try to learn something new. Invite your neighbors over for dinner despite the fact that they look different than you. Do not be fooled by ignorant people thinking only of themselves; hold them to a higher standard.
In twenty years my children will ask me about these events. In fifty years my grandchildren will read about them in their history books. We read about the "greats" that stood up for injustice, like MLK, Rosa Parks, and Susan B. Anthony. What we don't directly hear about are the little people. The people like you and me who lead ordinary lives on one side or another of an issue. There are tens of thousands that changed the world through their actions both small and large. If the ordinary and unnamed had not followed behind these leaders, they wouldn't have been leaders at all.
So, keeping in mind that one day you will be sitting in a rocking chair discussing these things with your grandkids, I have a question for you: which side of history are you on?