Racism and Us

Get Outlook for Android From: John Ames Birch Sent: Sunday, July 26, 2020 12:30:06 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>; Jagmeet.Singh@parl.gc.ca <Jagmeet.Singh@parl.gc.ca>; jedmiston@nationalpost.com <jedmiston@nationalpost.com>; jason.kenney@parl.gc.ca <jason.kenney@parl.gc.ca>; jsavikataaq@gov.nu.ca <jsavikataaq@gov.nu.ca>; accredit@gov.ru <accredit@gov.ru>; ANKRA-Consular@international.gc.ca <ANKRA-Consular@international.gc.ca>; amazon-ir@amazon.com <amazon-ir@amazon.com>; J Birch <Birch403@outlook.com>; Blanchet, Yves-François - Député <Yves-Francois.Blanchet@parl.gc.ca>; beril.aktas@hurriyet.com.tr <beril.aktas@hurriyet.com.tr>; contact.nbcnews@nbcuni.com <contact.nbcnews@nbcuni.com>; correspondence@council.nyc.gov <correspondence@council.nyc.gov>; contactus@newfoundlandlabrador.com <contactus@newfoundlandlabrador.com>; ctvottawa@ctv.ca <ctvottawa@ctv.ca>; dir_enq@cso.gov.hk <dir_enq@cso.gov.hk>; david.penberthy@news.com.au <david.penberthy@news.com.au>; doug.fordco@pc.ola.org <doug.fordco@pc.ola.org>; dan@jpost.com <dan@jpost.com>; English@mail.gov.cn <English@mail.gov.cn>; education@nasa.gov <education@nasa.gov>; Francois.Legault.ASSO@assnat.qc.ca <Francois.Legault.ASSO@assnat.qc.ca>; fkalmbach@theadvocate.com <fkalmbach@theadvocate.com>; Francois-Philippe.Champagne@parl.gc.ca <Francois-Philippe.Champagne@parl.gc.ca>; GlobalOttawa@globalnews.ca <GlobalOttawa@globalnews.ca>; governor@governor.ca.gov <governor@governor.ca.gov>; govsec@nanoq.gl <govsec@nanoq.gl>; govpress@la.gov <govpress@la.gov>; GovernorRon.Desantis@eog.myflorida.com <GovernorRon.Desantis@eog.myflorida.com>; HaveYourSay <haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk>; help@ellentube-support.com <help@ellentube-support.com>; info@bnn.ca <info@bnn.ca>; Info@hc-sc.gc.ca <Info@hc-sc.gc.ca>; Info@PMOindia.gov.in <Info@PMOindia.gov.in>; investorrelations@3M.com <investorrelations@3M.com>; nytnews@nytimes.com <nytnews@nytimes.com>; news@skynews.com <news@skynews.com>; news@thelocal.se <news@thelocal.se>; News@KelownaNow.com <News@KelownaNow.com>; tips@GlobalTVBC.com <tips@GlobalTVBC.com>; thisweek@abc.com <thisweek@abc.com>; thomash@theaustralian.com.au <thomash@theaustralian.com.au>; Secretary@HHS.gov <Secretary@HHS.gov>; submit@calgaryherald.com <submit@calgaryherald.com>; Sky.Today <Sky.Today@sky.uk>; KathyCrawford@house.mi.gov <KathyCrawford@house.mi.gov>; actso@naacpnet.org <actso@naacpnet.org> Cc: actso@naacpnet.org <actso@naacpnet.org> Subject: Racism and Us (Opinion)

Hey Everyone, I was reading a story about how someone was leaving racist messages in a Toronto subway station. First of all, we are a nation of nations and we are made stronger by diversity and equality. Each and every story a thread woven into the tapestry of who we are. The collective expression of humankind, each person, each voice a chord within the crescendo of our collective consciousness. Racism as we know is prevalent in the minutia. The little side glances, cruel jokes and derogatory words that tear us away from one another. It matters not your reasons for hate, it’s the hate itself that damages not only the victim of hate, the perpetrators but that of all of our collective society. It eats away at us and our humanity with each joke left unchallenged, each racist word uttered and every hateful action left undefended. Within each of us lies the power to end racism by recognizing that it despite our progress, still exists. As I’ve said before it’s not enough that we recognize its existence, we have to challenge it wherever it rises. We must sing the collective crescendo of us to topple any hateful soliloquy’s. In order to stop hate we must actively love. This love is not quiet, it is loud. This love will not bow to hate but eradicate it. This love will not sit blindly by as hate eclipses our world or institutions but instead this love will grow louder. This love will shatter hate and rebuild lives, it will become stronger than any hate brought to bear. Within each and every one of us lies the potential for such love. We must cultivate that love within one another to strengthen and at times reforge the bonds that connect us, our human unity, our humanity. Within this word lies the infinite potential of our species. It’s more than a word but the collective expression of not only who we are now but who we can become. I believe in us and I know that despite the hate that can at times eclipse the human heart, I believe love is stronger. We need not fear one another for it is with the beating heart of a stranger that we find ourselves. Together we can end hatred and racism by creating a world filled with love. A world where hatred is only a distant memory of the dark nights of our inhumanity. Such a world is possible if we believe in in and stand together. Together we will lead each other out of this dark night and back to the dawning of a new day for all humankind. “You either create a world for everyone, or else you will end up in a world fit for no one” Stay safe, Stay Sanitized and Stay Supportive, John Ames Birch @johneames2