I sit here at my laptop, tears streaming down my face as I listen to the Hamilton Mixtape.
I weep. Openly. Loudly.
I sob.
Yes. Sob.
I try, every single day, I try to look for the silver linings.
And then - yesterday - we learn about some of the soon-to-be appointed staff members of our President-elect. And dear G-d. I'm terrified.
TERRIFIED.
My friends, my people, I know, you look at me and see a white woman. And that is fine. I am. That is who I am. But I am also a Jewish woman.
And while that is not the most visible of prejudices being shown around our country right now it's there. Damn it. It's THERE.
If you don't see it, please, look deeper. Look within yourselves. LOOK.
CAN YOU SEE IT NOW?
I stand with my friends of color who are struggling and fighting to be seen. I stand with my friends of mixed heritage who may pass (in their own words) as white, but feel the same hurt. The same pain. And I stand with my white friends as they band together to support the people in their lives who are visibly targeted. I STAND WITH YOU.
Can you see me? Will you stand with me, too?
Because right now - every day - but right now, more than ever, we're under scrutiny.
I am under the evil eye. And I won't sit by and let it happen. I won't. I can't.
CANNOT.
What do I do? How do I make it through this?
How do we stop this? It's so terrifying. Devastating. So damned sad.
I am here for you, my friends. I speak up.
Please remember me and mine. Please remember I'm here. And I'm being 100% honest with you right now. I'm scared. I've been scared for you. I've been scared for so many. And yes, I've been scared for myself, sure. As a woman I know fear. We all do. And watching the normalization of horrific behaviors of men towards women, perhaps even women towards other women? It's been awful. It has. And I know that my fears there, as a straight, married, white woman - I know they're not the same as what you feel. I know it. I accept it. I own it.
But goodness, can you see me? I'm afraid, too.
And I just needed to say so.
I stand with you. So many of us in the blogosphere stand with you. Breathe. Live. Don't let the bastards suck the joy and camaraderie from us.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful...sharing your deepest fears and highest hopes! Well done, my friend! Goodness; please read this...please hears our hearts.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you girl. It's been an anxiety ridden, frustrating week. Trying to find the good. But it's so damn hard right now. It's a struggle... and it's even tougher when we're shamed for feeling the way we're feeling. Know I'm feeling it. I'm with you.
ReplyDeleteI stand with you and I want you to know that my international community stands with you too. http://pattymackz.com/wordpress/new/2016/11/14/american-election-an-expat-perspective/
ReplyDeleteI love you. I stand with you my friend. Holding you in light and love.
ReplyDeleteI stand with you Andrea, and I too am appalled and heartbroken. I do hope all of us who feel this way will turn our horror into action! We must do more than just stand with one another, we must call and write our elected officials, we must organize, we must register disenfranchised voters, we must march. We are the MAJORITY!
ReplyDeleteI stand with you Andrea! And, I hope all of us who are broken-hearted and horrified will transform our fear and rage into ACTION!!! We must organize, call representatives, march, hold people accountable, and gather to plan our fight!
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