Let Me Spell This Out For You

In the interest of full disclosure, I pitched my viral blog post to Patch and Buzz within minutes of each other because I just wanted to be heard.

Patch emailed me back within three hours, confirming my unedited piece. (They emailed me the next morning saying they had to edit some inappropriate lingo; fine.)

The Buzz tweeted me their hit piece twenty four hours later (after Patch got all the clicks the Buzz missed out on) slamming me because……I didn’t provide which Bush was president when I moved here? The article isn’t about me personally: it’s addressing a distressing and problematic reality within the community.

For those slamming my education, there is nothing as liberating as higher education. Without it, I would have neither the skills to express my beliefs nor the courage to do so.

The anger towards me personally from the Buzz is alarming, but expected when one goes against the grain.

However, the overwhelming support from within the community is so beautiful; it's a reminder that I’m not alone in these experiences.  

The comments were divisive yet empowering.

However, let me spell this out. It does not matter who I am. It does not matter what I look like. It does not matter where I am or who I’m with. It does not matter where I went to school. It does not matter what I was wearing. It does not matter how prevalent this behavior is throughout the country. It does not matter who the incumbent president was when I moved here.

What matters is that this behavior is wrong. It wasn’t just me, but it happened to me.