This is Not Right

I have spent a long time debating whether to write this. Even now, I'm not sure what will come of it and I don't know if I am prepared for all the possible reactions. 

This is not about writing. This is about what is going on in my country, right now.

Some of you reading this may wonder why I hesitated. The answer is that I prefer not to engage in online debate on Facebook. I know from studying psychology, that very few people who get into arguments about political issues are actually interested in an intelligent discussion. And when I say intelligent, I mean fact-based, respectful, and empathetic. 

I stayed quiet because I did not want to end up in any sort of fight with someone who I could not convince to even consider my point of view. It's a waste of my time and it would not offer any noticeable change. 

But what is going on in my country right now, it is not right. Too many people have been frightened or forced into silence. I have not and if I sit silent because I am worried about someone's opinion of me, then I am complicit in the atmosphere of hate and fear. 

That is not right.

There are so many wrongs to choose from: the ban on immigrants, temporarily stayed by judges, the censorship of scientists, the tightening of the noose around women's health care, the fact that a man who brags about assaulting women has the ability to bring the apocalypse raining down on the innocent men, women and children of the entire globe, and the list goes on.

I believe every one of those to be wrong. Every single one.

You are free to disagree with me. It is your Constitutional right to tell me I am wrong, that I'm a stupid bitch or a fucking liberal. But that same right applies to me when I say I disagree with everything you believe. It does not make me unpatriotic. It does not make me subhuman. It makes me an American. The moment anyone threatens to take away your right to say what you believe, that is when America is in danger. 

You might think that Democrats or liberals or anyone who disagrees with you needs to shut up and just accept the new president. But don't you dare argue that we are unpatriotic when we exercise our right to tell you to go to hell because we are not going to shut up.

This all applies to those who think like me. You can't stand up and talk about equality without knowing you have to be willing to protect your worst enemy's right to speak their mind, too. That's how this works. A genuine defense of the Constitution, of the United States of America, means defending someone's right to disagree and say the exact opposite of you. 

On my mom's side, I have an ancestor who lived in colonial America. She was applauded by the governor after she killed a group of Native Americans. They had killed her family, including her newborn baby, and taken her and her only surviving child hostage. While they slept, she killed and scalped them.

On my dad's side, I have a Cherokee ancestor. I'm also the descendant of German and Irish immigrants. Yet I am a white woman, safe and warm and fortunate enough to be attending a university. I am lucky. I know that.

I could stay quiet. I could avoid offending anyone. I could languish in my relative safety.

But I have read enough of history to know how that will end. Fear and hate are the greatest weapons of mass destruction ever created by mankind. My fear is nothing compared to the fear of those trapped in airports right now, or of those terrified they will be separated from their families. But my fear serves the same purpose: it threatens to keep me from doing anything. 

No more. 

This is not right. 
This is not right.
This is not right.

January Thoughts

It's been a while, hasn't it? Last time we talked I told you about my senior capstone essay. It turned out very well, if you were curious. Overall, last semester ended on high notes but the best part is this: I am now done with my psychology degree! I had a lot of trouble finding passion for my second major but last semester, I finally found it interesting and I'm happy about that.

I spent three and a half very cold and very snowy weeks at home and relaxed. It consisted of lots of coffee with my mom, working out with my dad, and eating really good food. I also started on the revision for book 3. I really should be focusing on Black & Gold but I promised Shelby she could read it so Black & Gold is my summer project.

I feel like most of my posts on here revolve around revision so  I will try to say new and exciting things. I will also try to talk more about my final semester of undergrad and everything that entails. I have four academic classes this semester: Film Theory and Criticism, American Regional Literature, Contemporary American History, and Secret Societies and Conspiracy Theories. I thought only having four classes would make this semester easy but I'm quickly realizing that is not true at all. So, this should be interesting.

I am also in the home stretch of finishing my law school application. My personal deadline is January 31 but (fingers crossed) it will be done long before that. My focus right now is my personal statement. This is a 2-3 page essay that is basically about why you want to go to law school or be a lawyer. Shocker, I'm using writing as my focus in this essay.

It's also a good reminder of why I HATE writing nonfiction. Some writers claim that your childhood provides all the material you'll ever need for a story. That's nice but most of my childhood consisted of sitting on my butt and making shit up. So you can see why I disagree. Plus, I inherently distrust anyone who tries to put a limit on the times when life can be shocking, beautiful, motivating, heartbreaking, or entertaining. That's simply ridiculous.

So, as far as writing goes, you can expect posts about: 
1) My revision of Sky & Steel 
2) My law school application
3) Me complaining about writing essays.

Additionally, look for posts about:
1) My final semester of undergrad
2) Musings about life lessons writing has taught me
3) Advice
4) Probably something about running because in March I'm going to start training to run the San Francisco Marathon.

Happy 2017, friends. I promise next time I'll try to be funny.