I don’t normally blog about social issues, but I posted this on my tumblr yesterday and, as the last graf suggests, spreading love around is a thing worth doing.
Regardless of who is responsible for the tragedy in Boston, which is an inarguably horrible event, I’ve seen an upsetting amount of anti-Muslim sentiment online in its wake. It’s unacceptable. We need to be better than that.
I’m your average white American male and I can’t begin to imagine what many Muslims and Muslim Americans are going through right now, but seeing how much misdirected hate is focused on them post-Boston is staggering.
One of my best friends in the whole world, one of the best people I’ve ever known, is Muslim American. I can’t comprehend what life is like for him today and I can’t stop hateful dummies from being awful, but I can let him know that he is loved and that he is an amazing person and that he has people to turn to for strength if he needs us. So I did. I sent a text and an email and told him exactly that.
I’m not trying to preach, and I don’t have any big answers. I probably don’t even understand issues of racial and religious bigotry as well as I should. But, I know a supportive and kind word from a friend can go a long way. One little thing probably can’t change the world, but it can make someone’s day a little better. That’s how I knew I could help my friend. I hope others are finding ways to help theirs. Spread that love, people! The world can always use more love.
This is no great piece of writing. It’s no powerful or eloquent message that should enlighten. This is just a simple idea that I needed to put into words, however clumsy, to remind myself that you’ve gotta focus on the good—in the world and that you can bring to it—especially when the world reminds you it can be a very scary place.
