Because you’re not worried about someone else deciding whether or not you’ll see your family again.

Some Fourth of July food for thought.

Let’s get this straight. He is kind of an asshole.

In the midst of the crazy that’s been happening lately, I worry that people are living by their politics too much and abandoning respect for their fellow humans.

We’re experts at coming together when things are going wrong. But what about standing together when things are going right?

So many are afraid of speaking about the controversial issues we face today, such race, religion, politics, sexuality, and civil rights. We’d rather be silent in our own comfort rather than make noise to inspire communal peace.

But my country is America, isn’t it? I was born here.

In today’s society, ignorance is a disease. It is infecting everyone around us and instead of tackling the situation head on, we surrender to what isn’t ethical or kind. Whether it be ignorance directed toward mental illness, religion, race or sexuality – our default setting is to sit comfortably in our fear, treating others as if they’re wrong because they’re different.

We wonder what we can do or say to help without making things worse. Or we decide there are too many problems to take upon ourselves, and stay out of it.

A lot of people who look like your dad were part of the formation of America, but they began their American lives as slaves to people who look like me.