Words Leave Scars That Last A Lifetime
Today was a beautiful day. After spending Thanksgiving with family and friends, I took a short drive with my daughters and granddaughter to Santa Monica to spend the day walking along the pier. It was a beautiful, warm day, so the pier was a great change of pace with the cool ocean air.
My two older daughters walked ahead of us as we stopped to put sunscreen on my granddaughter. As always, I was totally engrossed with this tiny little person, who stole my heart nearly a year and a half ago. As I was admiring her cuteness, some bicyclists rode by and yelled out, “terrorists.” As I looked around to see who they were talking to, I realized they were talking to us. There was no one else around.
Dumbfounded, I looked at them. Again, they repeated the same thing, “terrorists,” with such nastiness. As they drove away feeling proud of themselves, my daughter and I looked at each other in total bewilderment. Although our nationality does not include any Middle Eastern decent, we both were very offended by their racism.
I was in no way angered about being seen as a nationality other than my own. I was angry about the act itself. The more I thought about it, the angrier I became. Not that they were ignorant enough to make a comment like that, but how easily that horrible statement spewed form their mouths. I thank God my granddaughter is too young to understand.
I know there is still a lot of racism in the world, but I guess I never realized how prevalent it still is in the United States in the 21st century. I am astonished by the ignorance and stereotyping two adults could still hold. I can’t help but imagine how those who experience racism on a regular basis must feel.
Not only do the words of the ignorant racists batter their souls, but the violence they are put through for just looking different is beyond anything I can comprehend. The fact that adults can be so uninformed, ignorant, or stupid, you pick your choice of words; that just by someone’s appearance they can automatically assume there is something wrong with them. Emma Goldman said it best when she said, “the most violent element in society is ignorance.”
As my kids grew up, I always encouraged them to explore other nationalities, cultures, and religions. There is so much we can learn from others, and by learning from others we take away the fear of the unknown. I know ignorance comes from this fear, and many children learn this from their parents, but to be so full of hate like this is beyond ignorance.
So, to that couple who felt they needed to spread their ignorance and racists views on others, shame on you. Shame on you for judging others in such a hurtful way. I only hope that one day you are not subjected to the same kind of hate that you tarnished my daughter and I with today. My hope for you is that you will educate yourselves, so your words do not hurt another person.
Today we live in such a global society that one would assume we could learn to embrace the differences in one another. Maybe this is a naïve way of thinking on my part, but it isn’t something that is unimaginable. We all offer so much we can share with others, and what we can learn from them could add so much to our lives.
I have been lucky enough to get to know people from all over the world. Through these friendships I have been able to see the true beauty in people, which has been a true gift from God. Take the time to get to know the people around you. You never know what gifts you will receive from their friendships.
