#WakeUpAmerica

This country has a problem.  Okay, this country has a lot of problems.  But it has one big problem that people like to ignore.  I’ve found that we like to mask this problem behind other things.  One day our problem is biased law enforcement.  The next it’s biased media coverage.  Today, it’s the confederate flag.  Our problem is not any of these things, our problem is racism.

I couldn’t be happier to see the confederate flag losing traction & being removed from the shelves of power-house retailers.  It almost makes me angry that this has been such a debate when it is so many years too late (that rhymed).  I applaud the actions of the companies and institutions that are removing the flag, but the fact that this is such breaking news is just another indicator of the major, major underlying issue.  Why does it take the brutal massacre of nine people to make this change?  And why, why, why are so many people still defending this symbol of hate?

Flying the confederate flag carries the same weight as flying a swastika.  There is no difference.

Racism is not inherited.  I am a firm believer that every person is born with a kind heart.  Whether it is mental illness or innocent predisposition that leads them to racist tendencies, well I guess that is out of their control.  As someone who was born and raised in the north, I can tell you that this is not an isolated issue.  There is a huge misconception that the north is this symbol of evolution and forward thinking while the south is stuck in the past.  Well guess what, no one is stuck in the past.  This is the present.  It is 2015 and this is the way our country is.  Pretty depressing, huh?

But the belief that racism is taught actually leaves a great deal of room for hope.  I have seen several examples of people going against the twisted views of their elders in order to do what is right – or, rather, whatever the hell they want to do.  These are the people that break the cycle.  They, like myself, will teach their children to love everyone the same regardless of color, gender, sexuality, and appearance.  I wish I could say that I have never experienced racism first hand, but I can not.  However, the one thing that has kept me positive in difficult situations is remembering how many people choose love.  When I was (still am) growing up, my father always told me that for every one bad person, there are a hundred people trying to help.  Now, when I watch the news, I can’t help but look for the helpers.  I challenge you to look for them next time.  I promise you’ll find them.

The only thing that I enjoy about the amount of coverage this confederate flag ridiculousness is receiving is the fact that it is taking attention from the Charleston, SC coward who was taught to hate.  I don’t really have words for people defending the flag.  People are claiming that this flag holds history.  This flag is their heritage.  To them I say:

Screw your heritage if your heritage is hate.

Teach love.  Look for the helpers.  End rant.