01-30-2017, 08:51 PM
I just posted this on a video that was talking about the Muslim ban, but I think it's my clearest thought and most effective way of saying what I feel since I started talking about it, so take a second and read it if you'd like:
Let me be clear about something, I hate the San Bernadino shooter. He was at one point very close to where I worked at the time, he tore through a neighborhood where a good friend of mine's family lives, to the point where they had armed police standing outside their house, he lived very close to one of my sister-in-laws at the time, and he went to school with my brother-in-law back when he was in high school, which means potentially, he was in danger from this guy the whole time. I have a lot of reason to hate his guy, and I do, but I only hate him and the organization he sympathized with. I do not hate all Muslims because of this one guy, and people with less connection, people who have never had to worry that a loved one or their family was in danger generalize everyone who is Muslim and hate them blindly.
Despite what could have happened, despite what did happen, I do not, and will not hate all Muslims for the acts committed by a small number of extremists, Deleting Uber and boycotting Starbucks will not solve the problems we have, placing a ban on refugees will not help save American lives so much as put a strain on international relationships. It's truly sad to see people claim they support something and then find someone who they can take their hate or frustration on and focus on that instead of the actual issues that brought about those feelings. Don't boycott things in North America because they are helping people in a different way than you want them to, keep your focus on what caused the problems in the first place. If we do that, we have a much better chance at actually doing something, and that's the point, to do something. Be angry, be vocal, protest peacefully, but make sure you know where to aim all that do so that it makes the most impact. That will make the difference you week, not hating on Starbucks or Uber.
Let me be clear about something, I hate the San Bernadino shooter. He was at one point very close to where I worked at the time, he tore through a neighborhood where a good friend of mine's family lives, to the point where they had armed police standing outside their house, he lived very close to one of my sister-in-laws at the time, and he went to school with my brother-in-law back when he was in high school, which means potentially, he was in danger from this guy the whole time. I have a lot of reason to hate his guy, and I do, but I only hate him and the organization he sympathized with. I do not hate all Muslims because of this one guy, and people with less connection, people who have never had to worry that a loved one or their family was in danger generalize everyone who is Muslim and hate them blindly.
Despite what could have happened, despite what did happen, I do not, and will not hate all Muslims for the acts committed by a small number of extremists, Deleting Uber and boycotting Starbucks will not solve the problems we have, placing a ban on refugees will not help save American lives so much as put a strain on international relationships. It's truly sad to see people claim they support something and then find someone who they can take their hate or frustration on and focus on that instead of the actual issues that brought about those feelings. Don't boycott things in North America because they are helping people in a different way than you want them to, keep your focus on what caused the problems in the first place. If we do that, we have a much better chance at actually doing something, and that's the point, to do something. Be angry, be vocal, protest peacefully, but make sure you know where to aim all that do so that it makes the most impact. That will make the difference you week, not hating on Starbucks or Uber.