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Disappointingly Heartbroken
I am an unknown-number-generation Texan, many generations, raised with compassion for others regardless of their race or status, a work ethic to be an asset, an understanding of the natural world around us and the importance of conservation, and an appreciation of and respect for different cultures, all of which were instilled in me through the experiences I had with my family and parents growing up. Politics, like religion and money, was not an open topic, but respect, responsibility, compassion, and integrity were. These are ethics, morals, and passions instilled in me, and I have nurtured them, expanding them as my experiences and education have allowed.
Growing up, I looked for those values in those around me: to adults as leaders and role models, to friends and peers as influences. As social media has changed the landscape of relationships and connection, it has also allowed a wider window into how people actually think and feel about the world around them. And, frankly, it has been incredibly disheartening and unfathomably heartbreaking. The political and social media landscape has wrought divides that I fear will never be closed.
How do you look at someone you once looked at with respect, love, and eagerness to learn from, when now you see them with hate in their heart? Seeing people I love, care about, and looked up to openly expressing hatred, racism, bigotry, and willful ignorance has broken some big pieces of my heart. It may come out in small ways, a little comment, an eye-roll, or big ways like expressing blatantly hateful, discriminatory information that is false, misleading, or stoking fear and anger. Their own words, or shared thoughts from others, still express so much of the same. Hate. Racism. Fear. Disgust. Bigotry. Believing lies and half-truths, spreading them to the detriment of the poor, of minorities, of their own friends, family, and often without regard to the affect it has on those who are listening, watching, and reading.
All of those little and big moments, comments, posts, discussions, so often laced with hatred, fear, ignorance, or's.... CONTINUE READING....
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