Read on Twitter
1/ A bit of perspective. Amid excuses made for the people involved in the armed insurrection last Wednesday, was one that struck a chord. The “these people are angry and in pain” excuse is interesting to me.
2/ Ladies and gentlemen, in my forty-something years on this planet, I’ve been through some stuff. In no specific order:
I’ve lost jobs, I’ve had a life-threatening and debilitating illness, I’ve not gone to the doctor because I had no insurance...
I’ve lost jobs, I’ve had a life-threatening and debilitating illness, I’ve not gone to the doctor because I had no insurance...
3/...I’ve had to choose which bills to pay, I’ve had to ask friends and family for loans, I’ve been sexually harassed, I’ve been assaulted, I’ve been robbed, I’ve lived through a fire, I’ve had my work plagiarized, I’ve had ideas stolen...
4/...I’ve been accused of things I did not do, I’ve fought with family members, I’ve lived through a Cancer scare or two, I’ve held hands with dying friends and family, I’ve been hit by a drunk driver, I’ve known a few people involved in mass shootings...
5/... AND someone I’ve truly hated has been elected and held office....
People. NONE of these things has made me purchase, wear, write, or say anything racist, xenophobic, bigoted or homophobic.
People. NONE of these things has made me purchase, wear, write, or say anything racist, xenophobic, bigoted or homophobic.
6/ My struggles in life have only built empathy for others. My anger has made me strive for understanding.
7/ So no. No, I don’t think “I’m angry and in pain” is an excuse to violently lash out. I certainly don’t think there’s ANY excuse for the vile bigotry on display, and the gleeful disrespect of other people’s humanity.
