The white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia has revealed a lot about our nation--not just those who participated but administrative reactions in its aftermath.

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An air of hatred has been building since far before the election, and Donald Trump’s appointment into office has given those individuals who were already uncomfortable embracing the differences of others a platform from which to speak:  a bigger, even more privileged platform.  It has emboldened them, giving them the security to infringe upon others safety--with almost no consequences.  

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Though many underneath Trump spoke out directly against white supremacy and those participating in the rally, the President himself was not quick to personally comment, and, when he did, he recognized hatred on “all sides”--a fact that is frankly appalling.

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I’m all for recognizing the good and the bad in everyone.  It’s true that there are hateful people on both ends of the political spectrum; whether conservative or liberal, negativity is bound to have some sort of presence.

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However, that being said, being anti-Nazi should be common sense.  We shouldn’t hear them out or validate their old-fashioned ideals. We simply cannot regress back in time.  

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America has some great qualities--and free speech and the right to peacefully assemble are undoubtedly close to the top of this list.  However, with these rights comes the responsibility to abide by moral guidelines, and violence and threats and death within these assemblies is a misuse of our first amendment.  

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Frankly, I shouldn’t have to be writing an opinion piece explaining why I feel racism is bad. I shouldn’t feel obligated to express why hatred against marginalized groups who are literally just living their lives with darker skin or loving someone of the same sex is uncalled for.  

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Speaking out against nazis and white supremacists shouldn’t be controversial.

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And yet, in our country’s current environment--with our leader reluctant to explicitly denounce white supremacy and its followers--these things have to be said. It’s not enough to just be inwardly accepting and friendly.

 

It’s our civic duty, however, to resist the urge to block out all the anxiety-inducing noise and instead start taking action--whether this be stopping hatred when you hear it or donating to non-profit organizations who have the means and the outreach to begin making differences.

 

It’s our civic duty to eliminate all forms of hatred between human beings who are all just trying to live our lives as harmlessly as possible.