"You've been born into a time of uncertainty, but the one thing you can be certain of is that Heavenly Father loves you and Jesus is the Christ."
Sunday, November 13, 2016
November trip to TN
We took a spontaneous trip in November to see Stephan bless his new baby Rachel. It was a beautiful trip and a beautiful blessing:
"You've been born into a time of uncertainty, but the one thing you can be certain of is that Heavenly Father loves you and Jesus is the Christ."
"You've been born into a time of uncertainty, but the one thing you can be certain of is that Heavenly Father loves you and Jesus is the Christ."
Friday, November 11, 2016
11/11/2016
I told my mom last night, "On Wednesday, I cried. Today, I'm angry. I guess I just have to keep working through all of the stages of grief, but eventually, I'll get to acceptance."
And my mom, in a moment of blunt, poignant honesty, said, "Mmhmm...because we're white."
All I wanted from this election was for Americans to proclaim once and for all through our beautiful, precious democratic system: "We reject racism. We do not support it in any way. We do not even tolerate it."
I absolutely believe that the majority of you that voted for Trump are not racists. But "Make America Great Again" was a package deal, and you cast your vote, intentionally or not, for the entire package. Despite the fact that racism was part of the package, was even the way the package was introduced from the start of the campaign, you did not reject it.
A lot of us are afraid for what will happen next. As my mom so bluntly pointed out, many of us will be able to ride it out without much consequence. Many others will not. Even if you did not intend to vote for racism, those that did heard the message loud and clear: In America, we tolerate racism.
If you truly, absolutely did not intend to cast a vote for an America that tolerates racism, stop telling me to quit whining or to accept defeat graciously, and start loudly declaring, "We reject racism. We do not support it in any way. We do not even tolerate it." And then prove to me, and to those who really need to hear it, that those words are true. Please, prove me wrong.
And my mom, in a moment of blunt, poignant honesty, said, "Mmhmm...because we're white."
All I wanted from this election was for Americans to proclaim once and for all through our beautiful, precious democratic system: "We reject racism. We do not support it in any way. We do not even tolerate it."
I absolutely believe that the majority of you that voted for Trump are not racists. But "Make America Great Again" was a package deal, and you cast your vote, intentionally or not, for the entire package. Despite the fact that racism was part of the package, was even the way the package was introduced from the start of the campaign, you did not reject it.
A lot of us are afraid for what will happen next. As my mom so bluntly pointed out, many of us will be able to ride it out without much consequence. Many others will not. Even if you did not intend to vote for racism, those that did heard the message loud and clear: In America, we tolerate racism.
If you truly, absolutely did not intend to cast a vote for an America that tolerates racism, stop telling me to quit whining or to accept defeat graciously, and start loudly declaring, "We reject racism. We do not support it in any way. We do not even tolerate it." And then prove to me, and to those who really need to hear it, that those words are true. Please, prove me wrong.
Wednesday, November 9, 2016
11/9/2016
Dear Trump Supporters,
Today, I stood in front of 70 minority students who were looking to me for answers, and I said, "We are not going to talk about the election today."
They said, "I am so angry," and I said, "We're not going to talk about it."
They said, "I'm scared," and I said, "We're not going to talk about it."
They said, "How can I possibly do any work today?" and I said, "We just keep working. And we're not going to talk about it."
I did not know what to tell them. I felt their anger and their fear and their grief, and I had no words. But now, to you, I have words.
Throughout this election, you have insisted that it is not about race, it's about the economy; it's not about race, it's about protecting our values; it's not about race, it's about change.
My husband and I often tell our children that it doesn't matter what you meant to say if it's not what your audience heard. So let me tell you what your audience heard. Let me tell you exactly what you told my students of color, the children of color in my church family, the people of color that I am so lucky to call friends.
"Racism is fine."
"Misogyny is tolerable."
"We don't want you here."
I keep seeing messages on Facebook trying to remind us that now is a time to set aside our differences, to put the election behind us, to unite. I hope that we, as a country, can move past this. I hope, that we as Americans, can heal. But today...Today, I will not forgive you.
Today, I stood in front of 70 minority students who were looking to me for answers, and I said, "We are not going to talk about the election today."
They said, "I am so angry," and I said, "We're not going to talk about it."
They said, "I'm scared," and I said, "We're not going to talk about it."
They said, "How can I possibly do any work today?" and I said, "We just keep working. And we're not going to talk about it."
I did not know what to tell them. I felt their anger and their fear and their grief, and I had no words. But now, to you, I have words.
Throughout this election, you have insisted that it is not about race, it's about the economy; it's not about race, it's about protecting our values; it's not about race, it's about change.
My husband and I often tell our children that it doesn't matter what you meant to say if it's not what your audience heard. So let me tell you what your audience heard. Let me tell you exactly what you told my students of color, the children of color in my church family, the people of color that I am so lucky to call friends.
"Racism is fine."
"Misogyny is tolerable."
"We don't want you here."
I keep seeing messages on Facebook trying to remind us that now is a time to set aside our differences, to put the election behind us, to unite. I hope that we, as a country, can move past this. I hope, that we as Americans, can heal. But today...Today, I will not forgive you.
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