Dear Editor:

In the July 23 publication of the Cassville Democrat, Sheila Harris penned an opinion piece titled, “Would you still be my friend?”

I found myself among many others, exercising our first amendment rights in the comments on Facebook. First and foremost, I want to commend “Maria” for her bravery and courage to publicly speak in a time and place that is not always kind, hospitable or welcoming to individuals that are in similar situations to hers.

Sitting down to write this letter, I am reminded of the quote by Ginetta Sagan, “Silence in the face of injustice is complicity with the oppressor.”

Sagan was rescued from a Nazi torture chamber and went on to spend her life fighting oppression. How easy it would have been at that moment to scroll by and mind my own business. Instead, I chose to stay, read and reply.

It was easy to see that my feelings on the matter were only held by the minority, but why? Could it be the Christian upbringing that I had.

Maybe it was the influence from my grandparents and the ways they showed love, compassion, kindness and understanding. Most of all, I believe that my stance on this issue comes from mothering children and loving people who are living amid hate, racial profiling, microaggressions and blatant attacks.

The problem is not just a problem of lawlessness, and the solution is not simply to “come here legally.” This is an incredibly complex situation that we have in this country. If only it were as simple as coming to a new land and taking possession of land, stolen land. Many of our ancestors immigrated here during a time in which immigration laws were much different from now.

To exist without hate simply because you’re not an “other,” is privilege. No one looks at me and questions why I am here, how I came here, or if I am here legally. I did not come home from school upset because my peers called me a “W**b**k.” No one has had patted me on the back and commended me for not being, “One of those ‘N******.” I have never stood in a gas station in the middle of the night, aggressively being called a “F****** Mexican.”

That’s a privilege that I have, but not my family.

This is more than lawlessness. This extends past the, “they need to come here legally” argument — this is a heart issue. A heart issue that extends past Hispanics and immigration to includes all “other,” like those with disabilities, different sexual orientation, different gender orientation, different religious affiliations, differing social classification and different races.

This is hatred, but how do we change this? We begin by challenging our beliefs, listening and believing the voices of others, not to just fit your own agenda. We cannot sit by in complacency and say things like, “I’m not racist; I have a black friend,” or, “They can come here legally like my friend did.”

The world is watching, listening, observing how we act and react — how we sit by idly, while others face hatred every day. Our children are listening to the things we say behind closed doors. They see who is invited to holiday gatherings and who is not; they see the comments and posts we make. Our family, friends, co-workers, fellow church members, and those that we encounter each day, see and hear the things we say.

I do not believe that the things said to my children are not motivated by the hatred they experience in their homes. As adults, parents, grandparents, family members and friends, it is our responsibility to change for future generations. It starts with a willingness to see a problem and ask yourself how you can do better.

Lastly, to anyone who might be in the “other” group, please remember that you are seen. You are worthy of and deserve human decency and respect.

There are still individuals in our community that love, support, care, and believe that you are entitled to the best that our country can give you.

Whitney Kloss

Cassville