WHEN DID AMERICA BECOME SO INTOLERANT?
"Well...now it looks like I will never be able to get married". These words crushed me as I woke up early on Wednesday November 9th and watched the train-wreck of election results that were playing on the American news channel in my apartment in Budapest. I couldn't believe it. I really thought that I would wake up to the first female president of the United States. Instead, I was drowned by feelings of sadness, anger, disbelief, sorrow, and fear. Fear for what would happen not to myself, but to my Latino, gay, black, multicultural, Muslim, etc. (because there are a lot of categories) friends and family whom I love so dearly. We can sit here and argue about politics, and financial policy, and relations with other countries- and while that is all really important, that's not why over half of America, including myself, is absolutely horrified by the outcome of the elections. This election was about basic human rights and the out-pour of sexism, homophobia, xenophobia, and so on that was so extremely apparent, making me feel like we traveled back in time to 100 years ago. I always considered America to be such an open country, full of foreigners and people who are often considered "different" living in harmony among one another. Now before anyone says I'm naive, I am fully aware that there have been conflicts due to race, sexism, gender, sexual orientation, etc, BUT it was even more-so heightened by our president-elect physically showing everyone that this derogatory behavior is okay. It's extremely sad to me that America has stooped to the standards of some of the more intolerant countries, including the one I currently live in, where corruption, racism, and discriminatory nationalism take precedent over love and kindness. I thought intolerance was bad here in Hungary??? America, you have stepped up your game in that race (unfortunately).
I can't predict the future, or which of Trump's threats will actually come true- building a wall around the Mexican border, taking away Obamacare, repealing gay marriage....but each and every single one of those will affect people I know and people that I love or care about.
For those wealthier white folk that think shipping out immigrants is going to be great for our economy- who do you think is going to do all those low-paying, under-the-table paying jobs- 40-year old white american males? Who do you think is going to protect you or your daughter against the now empowered males who will sexually harass you on the street and in meetings, claiming it's just "locker room talk" or that he can do whatever he wants with you? Who is going to guarantee you equal pay as the opposite sex, or paternity leave when you child is born? Gay marriage? Abortion? Healthcare??
Despite the tragedy that I feel has fallen over our nation, it is not hopeless. It is up to us, as intelligent, tolerant, loving human beings to step up and show those (without violence or force) that they cannot stop the change that is happening in the world. While it feels like after taking one step forward, we have taken two steps back, is it our job to stand up to bullies, tell people when they have said something offensive, and be there for those who cannot stand up for themselves. Because when we are better people, our whole country is better and thrives. So in the next 10 years, when my best friend decides to get married to the person that she loves, I hope to be sitting there, front row, enjoying every minute of the her legal, same-sex marriage ceremony. #dianasays
With the inauguration of the 45th President of the United States just two days away I cannot help but reflect on how the last few months have dramatically changed us as human beings. I have never made it a secret that I support Hillary Clinton; I was, and still am, “with her” all the way. But I don’t want to talk about the political outfall of the new leadership, or Obamacare aka Affordable Care Act (yes, it is the same exact thing), or gay marriage or equality at the work place, or sexual harassment, or pro-choice versus pro-life, etc. Even though me and my family and friends’ lives will never be the same and is sadly affected in a rather negative way, I want to talk about how we, the people, have changed. How the nastiest election campaigns of all time brought out the very worst in people all over America and the rest of the World.
During my nearly 20 years in the United States, I have not once felt scared to share my views with someone. Never felt uncomfortable discussing my family background and heritage, my religious belief, or to be precise, lack of it. Not once have I shied away from a heated discussion of any topic such as faith, political views or simply my parenting style. I have lived through a few elections here in America and of course it did not always turn out the way I hoped for, but I have never in my life felt such dismay and fear for our future, for our humanity.
Kindness. Tolerance. Compassion. Generosity. Respect. Just a few words that entirely lost their meaning to so many people, so suddenly. It seems okay again to bully anyone for their appearance, for their views, for their religion. It seems okay to call out nasty names and use unacceptable language when communicating with eachother. It seems justified to feel no compassion for people less fortunate than ourselves. It seems to be okay not to respect women at all…
This. Is. Not. OKAY!!! Despite it all, I am a hopeless optimistic, I still believe in people and the goodness of human kind. I hold out hope for a better future, for a kinder world for my children and my future grandchildren, where they can feel safe and free to live the life they dreamed of. #mommyknowsbest
