The Moment of Truth is Now

Reposted from Facebook.

Foreward: I debated about posting this, knowing that my words and actions might have consequences I can't predict. Obvioulsy I decide posting is worth the cost.

I thought, for my mental health, the best thing I could do for myself was to take a break from Facebook. I thought that, because there are so many people on here that I love and care about, the best thing I could do was to avoid seeing some of the flippant and crass things being said online. Because, for our differences, you are my friends and my family and I have love in my heart for you.

But if you are my friend and you know me at all, I’m sure you won’t be surprised that I couldn’t be silent for long. And if you are my family and think I am out of order to be saying what I’m about to say, well then you obviously have forgotten the long line of women I come from, especially my grandmother and mother.

So, you voted for Trump. Good for you. Your voice was heard. You won. Congratulations. No, I mean it. It was a hard fought campaign and a lot of people felt passionately for their candidates. Plus, we are a free nation and voting is our responsibility.

Your work is not done. Because Trump’s presidency does not begin on January 20th. No. It began yesterday morning.

When a 17-year-old girl got on her bus in NYC and was told by classmates that now, she needed to sit in the back of the bus. She is Latina.

It began when another high school girl, wearing a hijab, had a knife pulled on her by a white man. Not boy. Man.

Or maybe it began when a 30-something African-American woman in BLOOMINGTON, IN, who was crossing the street had a white man in a pickup truck scream at her, “I hope you’ve packed your bags, black Bi*ch, because Trump is going to send you back to Africa.”

Or was it when another Muslim woman, again, wearing a hijab, a form of modesty in her faith, was attacked by a, wait for it, white woman, and told, “You can’t wear that anymore. It’s illegal.” (For the record, it’s not illegal. What do you think we are? France?)

And let’s not forget the elementary children who are being told their family will be deported because their skin is brown. Who says that to 5-year-old?

What about when a girl left for school and was told not to talk about the election or her family, because she’s being raised by two moms and they are afraid for her safety?

Or maybe it started when a high school girl, while changing classes, heard boys in the hall say, “Yeah, now we can grab any girl by the …” you know what, you fill in the word because it disgusts me… “whenever we want.” And don’t argue “locker room talk”. Just don’t. As a woman who was sexually assaulted when I was 18, I don’t have time for it.

Did I forget to mention that EVERYONE OF THESE VICTIMS ARE AMERICAN CITIZENS?

Yes, BORN in America.

So you voted for Trump, but you aren’t a racist or homophobic or xenophobic or misogynistic? I honestly believe there are many of you who did vote for him and do not think of yourself as any of those terms. So what are you going to do when you see things like I mentioned above happening? Are you going to look away, afraid that you might become the target? Are you going to hide behind the color of your skin while those being harassed or violated can’t? Or are you going to stand up for the ideals that this country represents: Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

We have a new president-elect. I hope and pray for all our sake, that Trump will truly understand what it means to lead ALL of us. But if we allow ourselves to become a nation that refuses to protect those who need protecting, then the American Dream we all claim to want, is over.

The American Dream is not about having a fancy car in your driveway. It’s not about having the latest pair of jeans or the trendiest clothes. It's not about what Starbucks does or does not put on the green and red cups. It’s about being able to provide a life for the people you love where they have their needs met and most importantly, can close their eyes at night without fear.

And for my fellow Christians, a reminder: Mark 24: 34-40 34“Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.35‘For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; 36naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.’ 37“Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? 38‘And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? 39‘When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ 40“The King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’

So I ask again. What are you going to do? Because this is not the time for bystanders.

Feel free to unfriend me now. And if I see you in the store and you look away because my words have offended you, I won’t be mad. I will just pray for you like I do every night before I go to sleep.

Many blessings on the United States and ALL who live here.