I’m taking a course to satisfy my cultural diversity requirement that has inspired me and caused me to think about identity in a way I haven’t before. Kudos to the instructor and the university as this happens far less than I’d like in most of my courses. I thought it would be nice to share some of my thoughts on a few of the topics I’ve encountered so far (paraphrased), with the hopes that it’ll inspire some conversations.
Continue reading Race, Ethnicity, and the Future of Identity
Dear Mr. Trump,
Let me start out this letter by admitting a few things. First, it would be a tremendous understatement to claim that I am not your strongest supporter. While I have disagreed with much of what you have said and what you and your soon-to-be Vice President claim to stand for, I still feel this letter needs to be written with sincerity and tact. That said, the second thing I will admit is that I am under no illusion that you will ever read this letter, or even be aware of its existence. I am not an important political figure, an aristocrat, rich, or famous; I am simply a concerned citizen and a member of the human race. I also understand if, from your point of view, my pleas seem unnecessary or even insulting, but please let me assure you that this is not my intention. I may be left-leaning, but this letter comes from the heart and out of a concern for my fellow man, not based on any political alignment.
This letter is not intended as a plea for you to reverse your stance on anything, or to retract anything you have said. Continue to stand by what you believe in, though I certainly hope in the future you are open to critically analyzing those beliefs and reevaluating your stances. That said, what I am asking you to do here is understand that there is a very large population in your country that are scared for their future, partly because there is also a disturbingly large population of people that firmly believe your election provides a license for racism, homophobia, sexism, and other forms of hatred. My hope is that you recognize this, and that while you may feel it is not necessary to acknowledge this hatred for what it is, I implore you to consider the impact such animosity will have both on our own people and on the world’s perception of our nation.
Please consider making an unambiguous statement about something I hope you feel is obvious, but I can assure you is not for many people: that hatred, abuse, and violence inspired by racism, sexism, sexual preference, religion, or country of origin will be no more tolerated or acceptable during your presidency than it has in previous presidencies. Assure the American people — and the rest of the world — that the rule of law, the rights and safety of our citizens, and the freedom to prosper for all kinds of people, are paramount and will continue to be upheld at least as well during your time in office as they have in the past.
Such a simple proclamation will go a very long way in unifying our country, curbing hatred, and showing the world the kind of leader you intend to be.
Sincerely,
Jonathan Gnagy
