I Don't Consider You An American Because You Don't Look Like Me

When you're told that you "originally came from countries whose governments are a complete and total catastrophe" so you should "go back and help fix the totally broken and crime infested places from which [you] came", there's a very direct and clear message.  In addition to the very direct and clear message, you're also saying so much more.

What the recipient may hear:

• You and I are different.
• You and I have different value.
• You come from a bad place.
• You come from a bad place so you must be a bad person.
• Its your fault that the place you come from is bad.
• You belong in a bad place.
• You don't belong here.
• You/your people cause problems.
• You/your people don't solve problems.
• You/your people aren't the solution to America's problems. 
• America's problems can only be solved by Americans.
• I don't consider you an American because you don't look like me/you aren't like me.

Divisiveness.



Constructive statements:

• Diversity among us means we bring more perspectives to the table.
• Diversity among us means the table is accessible to those from diverse backgrounds. 
• People of diverse backgrounds have an opportunity to come to the table to solve problems.
• We live in a nation of opportunity, regardless of our diverse backgrounds.
• We live in a nation where we find solutions to problems.
• Our problems are shared problems.
• Solutions to our problems can be achieved by working together. 
• We are all Americans regardless of our/our ancestor's place of birth/origin.

Harmony.


We need to realize that we're in this together to make substantive progress.
We need to acknowledge that we're all parts of a whole in order to take full advantage of what each constituent part adds to the whole.
We need to acknowledge when we, or others of our party, or others who are friends or family, or when any other American is creating divisiveness instead of harmony.
It cannot be ignored and go unchecked.

The ultimate goal shouldn't be one of tailored communication.
The ultimate goal should be one of changed perspective.
Inclusiveness. Collaboration. Understanding. Cooperation. Unity.

We have innate worth.
We are worthy of each others' consideration and respect.
Let's hold each other accountable and meet this standard.

Where to Begin

I'm extremely fortunate to have had a long period of relative stability during the last few years of my life.

Yes, there were changes. Yes, there were highs and lows. Yes, there were successes, failures, annoying moments, happy moments, struggles, triumphs, and the rest of what life has in store.
The thing is, I felt way above water through it all.
I could clearly see the lighthouse up ahead through it all.
Mid 2015 to the end of 2018 were peace.
Such peace.


My last blog left off with the passing of my beloved grandmother.
I didn't know how much that passing would affect me & I most definitely did not realize that many equally impactful - or even more impactful - occurrences were on the horizon.


Two of the people who most clearly exemplify how inspiring, resilient, and passionate a woman can be, two of the people that are everything that is beautiful and fierce in this world have dropped a word into my ears that has felt like lead, like poison, like some overly weighty substance floating around in my being that I just can't remove.

What do I do with it?

What have I done with other challenges?

Normally, I love a good challenge. I'm drawn to adversity. I love how utterly alive I feel when I have something in my heart and in my mind worth fighting for or even worth fighting against.

But this. This isn't my fight. Cancer doesn't know my name, nor does it care to learn it.



This is me learning to be utterly helpless.




What do I do with it? How do I chew up, digest, and subdue this lead, this poison, this powerful negative and turn it into something of Light, Growth and Purification?



This is me growing in prayer.
This is me growing in faith.
This is me knowing that I have no control.

I can't see the lighthouse up ahead right now, but I do have the glow of a Lamp at My Feet.
I don't know how it ends and I don't know the destination. 
All I know is how to be faithful in this step, the next step, and the next.



God in His mercy has seen fit to create good from this.
My perspective will never be the same.



Because of you I cherish each day more than ever before.
Because of you the blessings in my life are now so obvious.
Because of you I now know the vastness and immediacy of my need for God.

For years you have poured into me.
Know that you have opened the floodgates more than you ever could have imagined.