Photo credit: DrewMyers via Foter.com / CC BY-NC-SA
To all Americans who are immigrants, are not white, not straight, and/or not Christian:
I know a lot of you feel let down right now and I want you to know that I am with you. And I don’t just mean that I’m experiencing the grief and sorrow you’re feeling (I am). I mean I am here to support you.
I’m sure many of you feel like the country just turned it’s back on you. There’s no denying that this election is a backlash against Obama and everything he stands for. It’s awful and it’s incredibly frustrating to take a giant step back after all the progress we’ve made.
But I also know you’ve had setbacks before and you’ve always gotten right back up and gone back to fighting for what’s right. You are incredible, resilient, resourceful people and there is no reason for you to let this setback be final.
I’m also sure you’re exhausted. The fighting for equality has gone on for centuries and there are times (like now) when it feels like it will never end. I completely understand if you need to take a break to recharge. I’ll be waiting for you whenever you’re ready. Which brings me to the point of all this:
You are not alone. I am here to fight this fight with you and I know there are plenty of other straight, white, Christian, natural-born Americans who stand with me on that. So when you need a shoulder to cry on, someone to talk to, vent your frustrations, etc. – I’m here for you. I don’t pretend to know everything you’ve been through or understand everything you’re feeling now, but I can try. And if you need someone to sign petitions, create petitions, help you build posters, organize protests, spread the message that your lives and your rights are every bit as valuable and legitimate as mine, I’m here for that, too. This election is nothing short of a tragedy, but it does not mean that we have turned our backs on you. Whatever else you’re going through right now, I want you to know that.
I also know that some of you voted for Trump. I’m sure you had your reasons. I don’t agree with what you did, but my intention is not to shut you out of this conversation. Like Obama said, we all want the same thing: what’s best for America. We may have different views on what that means, but that does not mean we can’t have open and honest discussion about it. So you can comment, you can message me, whatever. All I ask is for everyone to keep it courteous and respectful.
XOXOXOXOXO
Alison