Racism

I'm feeling so upset! Is it a coincidence that I'm exposed to two posts that have to do with racism within the same day? First, a friend posted a picture of a marquis that says "Zoo has African Lion, Whitehouse has Lyin' African." On the photo's caption she simply restated what's on the marquis. I was surprised that one of MY friends posted this, I mean I know we all have different views on matters ranging from parenting, religion, politics, but postings have been pretty respectful so far. To see something this blatantly racist on my news feed was a bit of a shock. In my disbelief I managed to write the words "how racist" in the comment section. She commented back that she was being skeptical about our government and mentioned freedom of speach. I have no problem with people being skeptical of our government and of our elected officials, but criticizing a person on their race is just a cheap shot. Comments like this are hateful and meant to wound, they don't encourage honest intelligent discussion. And she does have freedom of speech, as do I in expressing my sadness over this display of racism. 

Later that day another friend posted a link to an article about a man who had killed another man. He and six of his friends would get together and target Latinos for assault, something they called, "beaner-hopping" - the man he ended up stabbing repeatedly to death was Ecuadorian. A lot of people are upset about the jury's verdict because he was convicted of a lesser crime, manslaughter rather than murder. I don't fully understand the differences between the different kinds of convictions one could be charged with after killing another person, but how a person can intentionally go out and commit the hate crime of killing a person based on their race and then be convicted of a more minor crime is maddening. The article went on to state that "low-level harrassment" of Latinos is common in Suffolk County; "They are regularly taunted, spit upon and pelted with apples, full soda cans, beer bottles and other projectiles. Latino residents riding bikes have been run off the road, and others have been beaten with baseball bats or shot at with BB guns." This doesn't sound very "low-level" to me. This attitude of ethnic intolerance may be one of the reasons why the man was convicted of a lesser crime: this sort of treatment of Latinos is common and low-level - nothing to see here folks, it's just an every day occurance. 

Well this just pisses me off! And it breaks my heart. I keep thinking we're more enlightened than we are. I keep saying things like, "still? In this day and age? In the 21st century? In our country?" I lose hope, I become pessimistic, I lose faith. But not for long. Not in the world I choose to envision. Not with the people with which I choose to surround myself. Not with the contrasting stories of human decency and the heroism of every day people to which I choose to expose myself. These stories leave me feeling hopeful and inspired and optimistic in spite of the remaining pockets of disrespect, hate and fear. 

So I will grieve for my brothers and sisters here and around the world who are persecuted simply because of their race. I will cry with a wounded heart at the humiliation, pain and injury with which they are subjected. And I will continue to raise my voice in defense of my fellow human beings. I also will continue to acknowledge and be grateful for those who see beyond our differences, those who treat others with compassion and respect, those who are helping to create a world of peace and integrity for all.