“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”
― Edmund Burke
This weekend frightened me. It hurt me to the very core of my being, and I could not just sit here.
How angry it made me.
The world is a big, scary place, and it seems that lately, it’s becoming even more terrifying. But when I see Nazis – literal Nazis with torches – marching side-by-side with the KKK through the streets of an American city…
It has to stop.
Hatred is NOT ok.
It hurts us all – each and every one of us, even if we are not the subject of the individual groups being rallied against.
I want to pause here – I am NOT saying that all Republicans are racist. I know for a fact this is NOT the case. But there have been certain statements from our POTUS which has opened up the flood gates, implying consent, which is enough for certain sects of people. The events that have been unraveling this weekend have been a long time coming, and while 45 does not agree with what has been done, he should not – CANNOT – sit idly by.
None of us can.
“I have a very strong feeling that the opposite of love is not hate – it’s apathy. It’s not giving a damn.”
— Leo Buscaglia
It did restore some of my faith in humanity, seeing the Charlotesville Collective Clergy make a stand. The images going around the internet of them standing arm-in-arm in counter-protest.
Of the Governor of Virginia telling the white-supremacists that they are not welcome.
But the images hold of the march, of the following violence where a driver careened into counter-protestors, killing one and injuring a number more.
How can you read the news and your heart NOT break?
Hate is simply NOT the way. The violence over the past few days is a perfect example of where that hatred leads. A state of emergency has been declared in Charlotesville.
Please, do not let it spread.
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”
— Marlin Luther King Jr
Please do not stand by quietly, and let this spread any further.
It’s time to stand up. Time to remember how far we’ve come. Yes, we have so far to go, but damnit! We cannot let ourselves slide into this madness.
I know it’s a rocky road, but this is where we need to come together, my friends. Put petty differences aside, and stand up as one.
“Be excellent to each other.”
— Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure