Nation claims unity, but hate still thrives

I'm 18, a legal immigrant from a country known as one of the most dangerous places in the world. I moved to America for safety and better education, not that I didn't get both back home in Pakistan.

And as much as I miss and love Pakistan, I think I have fallen for America as well.

Well, I did love it before a certain candidate stood up into a platform where he could reach billions and show great support and love for everyone, but instead brought them down shamelessly. I don't think people who haven't experienced racism have any right to tell me it doesn't exist. I know people younger than me who have been verbally, even physically abused by some of his supporters.

I'll give it to him though, he brought out the anger and hatred that was buried within a lot of of his supporters, he brought it forward to remind us that in this country that claims to be united, hate still thrives.

Everyday there is a new video about injustice around the world: gun violence, rape, victim blaming, racism, discrimination, war. And we still chose to turn our heads away, we chose to go on with our lives not wanting to help, like it never happened, like the horrible stuff stopped.

No, it didn't. War is still going on in Syria, Flint's water crisis is still going on, the hurricane and earthquake areas have affected people still there. Rape victims have pain that never seems to go away, families of lost ones hurt everyday. Just because you moved on doesn't mean they did.

We have truly lost our humanity, we have stopped caring. We used to be one, we used to be humans. I am tired and our people are dying. We must come together, we must.

Saiyyeda Amen

Glen Ellyn