Let Walls Fall.

Today is November 9th.
27 years ago, the Berlin Wall came down. 


Today is November 9th.
78 years ago, the violence of Kristallnacht brought destruction to Jewish homes, businesses, and synagogues, killing around 100 Jews.


Today is November 9th.
What kind of November 9th are we living in?

I hope we live in a world where we try to break down walls instead of build them, where we focus on our shared humanity while also valuing our diversity.

I hope we are trying to create a world where love overpowers hate.
Regardless of political ideologies.




I woke up on today, November 9th, with an aching heart. Wondering if my dream about trying to protect the gold and black peacocks in BYU's library was as real as watching the election unfold.
An election that few had enjoyed. An election where many felt like they would lose either way.

The peacocks weren't real. 
The election was.
And I couldn't help feeling America had lost.


We elected a man whose biggest dream for American was to build a wall around it. 

I know about walls.

Walls keep us from knowing our brothers and sisters.
Walls keep us from feeling empathy with those who are different from us.
Walls keep us from sharing.
Walls keep us from understanding.
Walls keep us from from learning.
From loving. 

We elected a man who not only relied on hateful rhetoric against his opponents throughout his campaign, but also against immigrants, against Muslims, and against women.

A man who dismissed sexual assault as "locker room talk." 

No matter where you stand politically, as a human being, you should know it is not okay to talk about people like objects or animals. And even less okay to treat them as such. 



America, you chose this president. 
But you don't have to let him define you. 

Today is November 9th. 
I hope that we can stand together today. I hope that if a Kristallnacht were to come, we would not stay in our homes and think of ourselves, maybe even being grateful we weren't Jewish. When horrors happen to others, we need to act. We need to speak. History is full of atrocities that happened as good people stood by, fearing repercussions or confrontation or giving into apathy.
We need to feel. And we need to feel for others. 
No matter the cost.

We have the trust to love and care for our neighbors. 

Black. White. Hispanic. Straight. Gay. Catholic. Mormon. Muslim. Atheist. Conservative. Liberal. Male. Female. 

Human.

Please. Let walls fall.