She suggests I start with the physical.
The knot in my throat that tells me I’m holding back.
The way I feel my voice shake as I tell my boyfriend when it’s just us not to worry—he and his family will be okay. “I over think,” he tells me, “How will I react if someone tells me it’s not okay to speak in Spanish anymore? What will be the outcome?” I can tell he is angry and scared.
The feeling that I can’t get away from it anymore.
She posts on Facebook about how beautiful the inauguration was and how elegant Melania looked. I want to scream at her, shake her--- and express that my people and I, we are scared.
News article after news article, executive order after executive order…
Where is the line for those that support him? I fear there is no line.
They asked my father who has been a United States citizen for over 60 years for his naturalization papers. It hits home.
Will he be able to take citizenship away? Will they support that too?
My stomach turns and I feel nauseous.
He said there’s only two genders but so many of us would disagree.
She tells me that her friend’s husband has an employee who is non-binary. They use they/them pronouns. Her husband used the correct pronouns, and someone told him, “It’s illegal to do that now.”
She tells me to hold onto hope, “It’s only four years.” I am appreciative.
I’m feel like I’m going to throw up-- DEI programs cut at the federal level. “That’s probably why my husband had to sit in on that meeting,” she says, “He said there was a woman crying the whole time and he didn’t know why.”
I just graduated from a DEI program, and I learned so much about myself and my community, what’s the harm in that? I ask corporate what our stance is.
He shakes his leg constantly. Tells me he doesn’t think it’s anxiety, it’s just something he does. I know that the body keeps the score. I know it’s anxiety, maybe fear, maybe both.
I feel disgust. I know I am white; therefore, I am privileged. I also know I’m Hispanic; therefore, I am scared. I envy those who don’t have this fear.
I am angry.
How can you call yourself a Christian? My God!
She asked him to show mercy and compassion for those in the LGBTQ community, for the farm workers and the migrants who are here illegally… Our neighbors and our friends, most of which have done nothing wrong but fight for a better life and the American dream.
He said it was a bad service, and she owes him an apology.
I want to cut all ties with those who voted for this.
MY God would never stand for this. MY God preaches love and understanding. Compassion. I was raised in a church that taught me right from wrong.
Yet, the same people from that same church are actively voting for things that will physically and emotionally harm others. For what? To save an unborn fetus? For lower grocery bills?
Where is the line?
I have known poverty myself and witnessed extreme poverty in other countries. I could never sell myself or my vote for promises of lower grocery bills and making America great. I just… I could never.
She told me to start with the physical,
The knot in my throat suggests I’m still holding back.