American Girl (2017)
Land of the free
And home of the brave
Lucky for me
I don't need to be saved.
I'm sitting here now with my heat blasting high
Safe as can be but still needing to cry.
My family is white
My forefathers were free
How blessed I should feel
How great to be me.
I'm watching the news and the stories of hate
I finally feel that we're not yet so great.
Born on this soil
With siblings and friends
All in this together
Till the border ends.
I'm shocked by this country every day more
I tried to be hopeful, but now I'm not sure.
Wednesday, February 1, 2017
Saturday, November 12, 2016
I Protested Last Night: Hear Me Out
Dear USA,
You know how there were all those people who said they would move to Canada if Donald Trump won the election? I was originally one of those people. But when I realized there was a chance he would actually be our President, I changed my tune. Why would I move to Canada when my country needs me most? Here you find me.
I am a social worker. I work with survivors of sexual assault and abuse, people of color who have been subject to hate and discrimination, young people who struggle to be accepted for their sexuality or gender identity. When I interned in a state psychiatric facility, we spent tireless hours trying to get citizenship for the undocumented immigrants in the facility who, if deported, would be sent back to countries where they would deteriorate.
This week, it was hard for me to look some of my clients in the eye. How do I tell someone who has been raped that there is hope when the man who will represent us (at the very least) joked about sexual assault?
I kept asking myself... didn't the voters know better?
I am aware that some people would label me an elitist. I am the reason Donald Trump was elected, they might say. Liberals think they're better than everyone else. Think we know things that others don't know. Think we feel things that others don't feel. We tell people what is acceptable to say and what isn't and it is polarizing. I understand. But I can honestly tell you that I have never looked down on anyone for thinking differently than me. That I understand that everyone lives different lives, has different priorities.
People I care about very deeply voted differently than me in this election. I am not mad at them, I do not judge them. But as a human woman and a social worker, I feel an obligation to advocate and activate for what I believe in. So that's what I did - I protested in Philadelphia last night.
The opinion pieces on these protests have skewed the truth. Millenials are acting out, they said. But no. Here were people of all ages, races, ethnicities, religions, orientation, genders. And I'm not just observing that - I know because we talked.
The protest started with individuals sharing their stories. A woman rape survivor tearfully confronted signs in the crowd. "My pussy didn't grab back," she said. A man wearing a Veteran's cap stood proudly and stated, "I am a Veteran here on Veteran's day. I am also an openly gay male." Sitting below him, another person took the microphone. "I am a woman. I am a person of color. I am disabled."
Before we took off to march, we were reminded again that the protest would be peaceful. Three nights of protest in Philadelphia and zero arrests. Philadelphia can be proud and protest and be peaceful.
We were told, "If you see someone who is acting in a way that is not peaceful, you remind them. You tell them you love them and violence is silence." We will not be silent.
Then we marched. The chants during the march varied and I felt uncomfortable with some of the words. Many times the chant resorted to profanity, so then I just walked in silence. We need a more meaningful message, I thought. Some groups shouted for revolution. I don't want that. I want our country to heal itself, not revolt. Others in the crowd joined eyes during that cheer and we drowned out the cry to revolt with cheers about love instead.
We shouted to the clapping observers, join us! We sang out, "the people united will never be defeated." And at the end, we walked quietly.
Many people have asked me, what do I expect from this protest? They say nothing will change. But I challenge them to remember that our country was built on protest and the rights of many have been won through protests.
I am proud that I have not sat silent. At the very least, I am hopeful that when my children read about this election in their history books and hear the hate speech that was spewed, they will also read an extra small sentence:
People protested.
-From BCH
You know how there were all those people who said they would move to Canada if Donald Trump won the election? I was originally one of those people. But when I realized there was a chance he would actually be our President, I changed my tune. Why would I move to Canada when my country needs me most? Here you find me.
I am a social worker. I work with survivors of sexual assault and abuse, people of color who have been subject to hate and discrimination, young people who struggle to be accepted for their sexuality or gender identity. When I interned in a state psychiatric facility, we spent tireless hours trying to get citizenship for the undocumented immigrants in the facility who, if deported, would be sent back to countries where they would deteriorate.
This week, it was hard for me to look some of my clients in the eye. How do I tell someone who has been raped that there is hope when the man who will represent us (at the very least) joked about sexual assault?
I kept asking myself... didn't the voters know better?
I am aware that some people would label me an elitist. I am the reason Donald Trump was elected, they might say. Liberals think they're better than everyone else. Think we know things that others don't know. Think we feel things that others don't feel. We tell people what is acceptable to say and what isn't and it is polarizing. I understand. But I can honestly tell you that I have never looked down on anyone for thinking differently than me. That I understand that everyone lives different lives, has different priorities.
People I care about very deeply voted differently than me in this election. I am not mad at them, I do not judge them. But as a human woman and a social worker, I feel an obligation to advocate and activate for what I believe in. So that's what I did - I protested in Philadelphia last night.
The opinion pieces on these protests have skewed the truth. Millenials are acting out, they said. But no. Here were people of all ages, races, ethnicities, religions, orientation, genders. And I'm not just observing that - I know because we talked.
The protest started with individuals sharing their stories. A woman rape survivor tearfully confronted signs in the crowd. "My pussy didn't grab back," she said. A man wearing a Veteran's cap stood proudly and stated, "I am a Veteran here on Veteran's day. I am also an openly gay male." Sitting below him, another person took the microphone. "I am a woman. I am a person of color. I am disabled."
Before we took off to march, we were reminded again that the protest would be peaceful. Three nights of protest in Philadelphia and zero arrests. Philadelphia can be proud and protest and be peaceful.
We were told, "If you see someone who is acting in a way that is not peaceful, you remind them. You tell them you love them and violence is silence." We will not be silent.
Then we marched. The chants during the march varied and I felt uncomfortable with some of the words. Many times the chant resorted to profanity, so then I just walked in silence. We need a more meaningful message, I thought. Some groups shouted for revolution. I don't want that. I want our country to heal itself, not revolt. Others in the crowd joined eyes during that cheer and we drowned out the cry to revolt with cheers about love instead.
We shouted to the clapping observers, join us! We sang out, "the people united will never be defeated." And at the end, we walked quietly.
Many people have asked me, what do I expect from this protest? They say nothing will change. But I challenge them to remember that our country was built on protest and the rights of many have been won through protests.
I am proud that I have not sat silent. At the very least, I am hopeful that when my children read about this election in their history books and hear the hate speech that was spewed, they will also read an extra small sentence:
People protested.
-From BCH
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