People and Prejudice

From: J Birch Sent: Thursday, May 14, 2020 4:47:33 PM To: justin.trudeau@parl.gc.ca <justin.trudeau@parl.gc.ca>; Chrystia.Freeland@parl.gc.ca <Chrystia.Freeland@parl.gc.ca>; dujarric@un.org <dujarric@un.org>; GlobalOttawa@globalnews.ca <GlobalOttawa@globalnews.ca>; tips@GlobalTVBC.com <tips@GlobalTVBC.com>; contact.nbcnews@nbcuni.com <contact.nbcnews@nbcuni.com>; news@skynews.com <news@skynews.com>; Secretary@HHS.gov <Secretary@HHS.gov>; Sky.Today <Sky.Today@sky.uk>; nytnews@nytimes.com <nytnews@nytimes.com>; media@gatesfoundation.org <media@gatesfoundation.org>; david.penberthy@news.com.au <david.penberthy@news.com.au>; jedmiston@nationalpost.com <jedmiston@nationalpost.com>; dir_enq@cso.gov.hk <dir_enq@cso.gov.hk> Subject: People and Prejudice (Opinion)

Hey Everyone, I have been reading more in the news lately about racially motivated incidents that are now being investigated. I've heard about a bull's-eye being placed in a yard and now a driver being pulled over and told to leave the state. These instances are troubling to me because I would not want to walk down the street or open my door and feel hatred from those who do not truly know the person who I am. I do not wish this on anyone, I want for all of you to exist in a world where you are safe and respected. A world where you can walk down the street with your family and feel safe, live in your neighborhood in peace and drive to and from without fear. These are things that many of us take for granted because our privilege affords us the protections that each of us deserve. I have heard about privilege being talked about with racial bias and how single white men enjoy more and I feel we all deserve privilege, the privilege of equality. To know that while we may lead different lives and have different goals and dreams we are safe in that collective expression of our humanity. Allowing each of us to walk down the street no matter our color or religion, to marry whom we love no matter the gender and to dream of better futures for ourselves and one another no matter our situation. This is the world that I believe in, the world we all dream and hope for, that perfect future where us and those we love are safe, supported and taken care of. A world where those we deem "our people" are safe. The thing is, we are all one people and its been the failure to realize this that has been the cause of all our misfortunes as a people no matter our color. The trauma of fear and hate is not limited to the target of that hate but instead sends shockwaves that resonate within society, and cuts deeply into the heart of those who hate. Hatred is like a poison you swallow yourself hoping it will harm the person you have failed to understand. This can change a person and society with each act or word of hate until the love in our lives becomes eclipsed by it. We are all better than hate or fear and when we rise above these inner demons and love despite the fear we may feel, we fly higher towards our faith in more profound ways. To see ourselves by looking into the hearts of others allows us a moment of pause to truly see the person and not the prejudice. In each of you lies the beating heart of a peaceful warrior, a lover. Love, a word we have romanticized, talked about, studied and even fumbled through at times. Its not easy to love as we all know, its messy at times, imperfect and even terrifying. To open your heart and mind to another in mind, body and spirit is a very vulnerable thing. However, these moments of love can change everything. Those moments where we rise above the fear we feel for each other and decide to love despite that fear we feel, are powerful moments. These choices casting ripples through space and time connecting us to each other. These are the moments, the moments where our humanity is made real, our beauty displayed, as we love. I know its not easy to set aside such fear but I promise that the beauty that we will find together surpasses all things we can reach alone. Together that beautiful road lies ahead and once we stand side by side, all things become possible. All things become beautiful. Stay Safe, Stay Sanitized and Stay Supportive, John Ames Birch @johneames2