Racism during Trumpziism - Donald Trump reaction
How I responded to a racist note in my gym bag
Many Americans embrace this beautifully diverse tapestry, like our own Alabama Senator Doug Jones, who surprised me with his supportive Tweet:
"As expected, the @realdonaldtrump disturbing rhetoric has gone mainstream. In Alabama especially, we know what can happen if we allow this kind of hatred to fester and if we don't call out racism when we see it."
Someone left this note in
@arabinalabama's bag at a gym in Vestavia Hills, Alabama. His response? A note to his children that said, "Keep your chin high, be proud of who you are, and where you come from. Ignorant people should be taught and loved, make that your mission."
Arabinalabama is my twitter handle. This is what I wrote to my children following the incident:
“So I wasn’t going to show you all this, but then I thought this is something you will face one day no doubt. Someone left this in my gym bag the other day. Things are for sure getting worse as far as race in this country. Just do this for me though: Keep your chin high, be proud of who you are, and where you come from. Ignorant people should be taught and loved, make that your mission, not hatred. Be compassionate, loving, in the long run, that will pay off much more than hatred. I love you all so much, and this only makes me stronger, and should you as well.”
I came to this country from Syria at the age of 18 to seek a better life, and it has been 35 years of dreams coming true, freedom burgeoning at every turn, and, unfortunately, racism sometimes thriving—fashionable and strong.
Facebook Backlash
Examine the actions of Martin Luther King who said, “Love is the only way”.
Read the words of New Zealand’s prime minister, Jacinda Mania, who said this after the Christchurch shooting in March of this year, “Sympathy and love for all Muslim communities.”
Will racism continue? Will the President continue to inspire hatred and division? Will white nationalists continue to harass others on social media? Will Muslims and Jews and Hindus and Buddhists and people of other faiths be harassed to the extent that they feel unsafe?
Will different skin color continue to cause problems?
The answer to the questions above is a “Yes.” But I like to think that “Yes” is marred by compassion, shaken by mercy, and will eventually be destroyed by love.
The timid “yes” will become a resounding “NO.”
Call me hopeful. Call me idealist. You can even call me a dreamer. Life without hope, idealism, and dreams can be pretty boring.
Karim Shamsi-Basha is a journalist living in Birmingham, Alabama. Karim Shamsi-Basha immigrated to the United States from Damascus-Syria in 1984, at the age of 18.
An echo experience from Alabama
Trump Tells Congresswomen to ‘Go Back’ to the Countries They Came From
Trump Tells Congresswomen to ‘Go Back’ to the Countries They Came From
By Karim Shamsi-Basha- This is an echo opinion column published in Alabama.com.
This note was left in my bag at the gym last week, because it has become acceptable to be a racist in America.
Donald Trump can say, “Go back” to the “Totally broken and crime infested places from which they came” to four Muslim congresswomen, three of which were born in the United States.
Donald Trump can say, “Go back” to the “Totally broken and crime infested places from which they came” to four Muslim congresswomen, three of which were born in the United States.
The note in my bag had the same Trumpziism language.
Was this hateful message inspired by Trump and his rhetoric? I’m sure it was caused by many things, including Trump’s continuous assault on what makes this country the beautiful diverse tapestry it became in 1776.
Many Americans embrace this beautifully diverse tapestry, like our own Alabama Senator Doug Jones, who surprised me with his supportive Tweet:
"As expected, the @realdonaldtrump disturbing rhetoric has gone mainstream. In Alabama especially, we know what can happen if we allow this kind of hatred to fester and if we don't call out racism when we see it."
@arabinalabama's bag at a gym in Vestavia Hills, Alabama. His response? A note to his children that said, "Keep your chin high, be proud of who you are, and where you come from. Ignorant people should be taught and loved, make that your mission."
Arabinalabama is my twitter handle. This is what I wrote to my children following the incident:
“So I wasn’t going to show you all this, but then I thought this is something you will face one day no doubt. Someone left this in my gym bag the other day. Things are for sure getting worse as far as race in this country. Just do this for me though: Keep your chin high, be proud of who you are, and where you come from. Ignorant people should be taught and loved, make that your mission, not hatred. Be compassionate, loving, in the long run, that will pay off much more than hatred. I love you all so much, and this only makes me stronger, and should you as well.”
I came to this country from Syria at the age of 18 to seek a better life, and it has been 35 years of dreams coming true, freedom burgeoning at every turn, and, unfortunately, racism sometimes thriving—fashionable and strong.
Facebook Backlash
 |
| Examine the actions of Martin Luther King who said, “Love is the only way”. |
I posted the note and some brief commentary on Facebook.
Friends have since then posted their support on Twitter which has taken a life of its own as well. The question remains, Why are people from different “anything” less worthy?
I never wanted any of this backlash, but journalists make things public. They pour their souls out for the world to stomp on, and stomp on it they have. Despite receiving love and support, I have received a thousands of hateful and racist comments, as well as a few death threats. One comment said, “You should be beheaded.” Another, “Go back to Syria.” I have since then made my Facebook profile private.
Death threats are nothing new.
Racial issues make the waters of our lives boil and spill over, sending the steam of intolerance, the heat of hatred, and the smell of burning rage. No doubt, this is often promoted by the notion that some are better than others due to the color of their skin.
Does this behavior filter down from the top down? Trump did not invent racism, he is only bringing it back with style. He is making it acceptable to be intolerant, belligerent, and aggressive. That is how he acts, and his fans have followed suit.
All of that is now normal behavior.
But it shouldn’t be. It should be looked at as despicable, unacceptable, and revolting. Common decency asks us to accept everyone regardless of their different “anything.”
Humanity pleads with us to rise above, to smile, to preach peace, to speak kindness, to be humble, to promote tolerance, to help others, and to be loving beings in touch with their empathy, in tune with their charity.
Love is the answer
Love is the only thing that will fight racism, bigotry, and all the ills of this world. If you trace the greatest leaders throughout history, you will find they accomplished huge tasks and motivated millions by love.
I never wanted any of this backlash, but journalists make things public. They pour their souls out for the world to stomp on, and stomp on it they have. Despite receiving love and support, I have received a thousands of hateful and racist comments, as well as a few death threats. One comment said, “You should be beheaded.” Another, “Go back to Syria.” I have since then made my Facebook profile private.
Death threats are nothing new.
Racial issues make the waters of our lives boil and spill over, sending the steam of intolerance, the heat of hatred, and the smell of burning rage. No doubt, this is often promoted by the notion that some are better than others due to the color of their skin.
Does this behavior filter down from the top down? Trump did not invent racism, he is only bringing it back with style. He is making it acceptable to be intolerant, belligerent, and aggressive. That is how he acts, and his fans have followed suit.
All of that is now normal behavior.
But it shouldn’t be. It should be looked at as despicable, unacceptable, and revolting. Common decency asks us to accept everyone regardless of their different “anything.”
Humanity pleads with us to rise above, to smile, to preach peace, to speak kindness, to be humble, to promote tolerance, to help others, and to be loving beings in touch with their empathy, in tune with their charity.
Love is the answer
Love is the only thing that will fight racism, bigotry, and all the ills of this world. If you trace the greatest leaders throughout history, you will find they accomplished huge tasks and motivated millions by love.
Examine the actions of Martin Luther King who said, “Love is the only way”.
Read the words of New Zealand’s prime minister, Jacinda Mania, who said this after the Christchurch shooting in March of this year, “Sympathy and love for all Muslim communities.”
Will racism continue? Will the President continue to inspire hatred and division? Will white nationalists continue to harass others on social media? Will Muslims and Jews and Hindus and Buddhists and people of other faiths be harassed to the extent that they feel unsafe?
Will different skin color continue to cause problems?
The answer to the questions above is a “Yes.” But I like to think that “Yes” is marred by compassion, shaken by mercy, and will eventually be destroyed by love.
The timid “yes” will become a resounding “NO.”
Call me hopeful. Call me idealist. You can even call me a dreamer. Life without hope, idealism, and dreams can be pretty boring.
Karim Shamsi-Basha is a journalist living in Birmingham, Alabama. Karim Shamsi-Basha immigrated to the United States from Damascus-Syria in 1984, at the age of 18.
Labels: Alabama.com, Donald Trump, Karim Shamsi-Basha, Martin Luther King, Senator Doug Jones
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