Memory for August 19th

August 19th, 2010


Looking at the world today I don't feel we have come very far in terms of racism and bigotry, and that sure is a shame.  Why is it, that because of a person's skin color, religious preference, sexual gender, or sexual orientation that they can be treated differently?  There was a time in our history not that long ago that marriages of black people were not recognized.  Then biracial marriages were not recognized.  Now gay marriages are not recognized.  Why are we fighting so hard against it?  Is it because that is what we have done in the past and have not learned from it?


Today I was sitting at the table reading the news on my laptop and it disturbed me to read about the mosque being built two blocks away from ground zero. A religious group is building a community center/masque in New York City.  No big deal, right?  Lots of things are built in NYC.  The mosque was approved in January to be build.  Now three months before an election the public is outraged, a mosque at ground zero means the terrorists have won.  Really?  It think a mosque two blocks away from ground zero means the terrorists have lost. I think the rallies to boycott it mean the terrorist have won.


I called the girls into the kitchen so we could talk about was going on.  I felt they were old enough to understand what was going on.  I also wanted to instill in them at an early age that bigotry and racism is not okay.  I asked them if they remembered what happened oh September 11th. They did.  Then we talked about it for a little bit.  We talked about what had happened and all the people who were injured and those who lost their lives.  We talked about the courageous people who helped others and those who died as well.  We talked about the terrorists how they were muslim and were supposedly told by god to do that horrific work.  I also explained to them that it is not part of the muslim teachings to kill people and that no god would tell people to kill others.  We also talked about how people now don't like muslims, any muslims.


Then I told them about the Oklahoma City bombing and how the person who committed that act was christian. I said after that act of terrorism people still liked christians.  Then I told them that there was a beautiful memorial built in Oklahoma City to honor the men, women, and children who died.  Trevor, Julia, and I went to the memorial when we lived there and were touched by the simplicity and importance of it. 


Then we started to discuss the issue at hand.  I asked them if it was okay to hate all muslims?  No they replied.  I asked them if it was okay to hate all christians?  No was the same reply.  Then I brought up pictures of what ground zero looks like today.  I am still amazed that after almost nine years it still looks like a war zone.  No memorial to honor those who died have been built yet.


Then we started to discuss the mosque.  I told them muslim religious group wanted to build a community center/mosque/church and how it was going to be two blocks away.  We looked outside and tried to determine what was two blocks.  Then I told them that there was a group of people who did not want the mosque to be build.  How they felt it was a disgrace and dishonor to those who died.  The girls were confused by that.  They wondered why people would feel like that.  Julia said it should be built.  That it was okay.  Ariana said, "Yea, it should be built.  Because it's not like anything else is there.  It's just a pile of garbage.  You can't even park there."  Wow. She thought it was okay if the mosque was built and even went as far as to think it should be built on top of ground zero because nobody had done anything with that land.  I explained then that it should not be built on ground zero.  That a memorial needs to built there but she was right nothing has been done.


We also talked about how there are people fighting against a health care bill that would help those that got sick because of all the dust and debris from 9/11.  Those people were fireman, policemen, emergency workers, and ordinary people like you and me that helped as well.  The air was toxic and now the people are suffering and the healthcare they have is not enough to cover their expenses.  I told them the same people who are fighting the extended healthcare benefits for the heros are also some of the same people fighting the building of the mosque.


We talked about how bigotry is not okay.  Everyone will experience some form of bigotry.  I explained to the girls that if they are with their friends and their friends are being racist they don't need to call their friend a racist but just to say that they are not being very nice or that is not cool.  I also told the girls that they will also have racist thoughts as well.  We all do.  So I when they don't like a person I want them to stop and ask themselves: do I not like this person because of their skin color, because of they are a girl or a boy, because of their religion, because of how much money they have or don't have?  And if they answer yes to any of those they need to stop and beware of their thoughts and change their outlook.  We are ALL equal.  I am not better than someone because I am white.  I am not better because I am a woman.  I am not better because I make more money than someone else.  I am not better because I am American.  I am Michelle, I am equal.  


If only the world was a less hateful place to live it.  Can't we all just get along?