Hatred has abounded on this continent ever since the first European settlers arrived centuries ago. The “every man is created equal” clauses of many of our founding documents left out anyone who wasn’t male and white.
Among nations on this earth, the United States is known as a great melting pot, unfortunately, due to hatred and discrimination, some groups have never been able to “melt” into society like some others. Blacks, Latinos, Native Americans, and Asians have had their struggles, and sadly, those continue to this day. Add to that Jews, Muslims, the LGBTQ community, and women, discrimination, and as in recent cases, hatred erupts.
Our previous president frequently used vicious language when it came to anyone who was not a member of his base. While hatred in this country is not new, the president legitimized hatred in the minds of many Americans, sometimes by making cruel comments, sometimes by not saying anything about horrific events, and sometimes giving a wink and a nod.
The new president has taken executive actions and made statements to show that hate crimes will not be tolerated under his watch. However, just because Mr. Biden makes these moves and takes these actions, does not mean that some people will automatically decide to stop hating.
I see three types of people in this country: those who espouse hate and discrimination, those who fight against hatred and discrimination and fight for social justice, and those who may not like hatred or discrimination, but are either ambivalent about it or don’t understand how prevalent it is.
It is the latter group that I most want to talk to. Fighting hatred and discrimination is important because you never know when it is going to come knocking on your own door, affecting you and your family.
As a trans woman who began her male-to-female transition five years ago, I was supportive of trans people, although, admittedly, five years ago, I knew very few members of the LGBTQ community. Transitioning made me a target of hatred and discrimination, something I never experienced as a white, Christian, male here in America. It was an eye-opening experience. I have been lucky that I have not been subject to physical violence, but the verbal comments can be brutal.
Happily, over the last five years, I have developed a rather thick skin and can laugh off some of the ignorant comments I hear. Open verbal threats, and displays of physical violence, would be a different thing entirely.
Now most of my readers are not going to transition to a new gender, but you never know when your child or grandchild may feel they need to come out as gay, lesbian, or transgender. It is rare, but it does happen, more often than many people may realize. Would you, as a parent or grandparent to such a child, want a beloved member your family to endure hated, threats or violence?
Similarly, what if your white son or daughter fell in love with a person of another race or religion. Would you want their significant other or spouse, or perhaps your own grandchildren, to endure the type of violence that befell Trayvon Martin, George Floyd, or the Asian women brutally shot in Atlanta last month?
Fathers and husbands: do you really want your daughter or wife to be sexually assaulted by someone at work, while receiving 80 cents for every dollar you make?
When it becomes personal, hatred and discrimination take on a whole new meaning. This is why it is so important not to be apathetic or ambivalent about fighting hatred and discrimination. Let’s do it now so that every American can feel secure in being who they are without fear of being hated or discriminated for it.
Mariel Addis is a native of Florence.