Personal Essay Number Five

Commentary on our Domestic Crisis

1.23.2026

It is astronomically difficult to synthesize the pain, suffering, and disrespect that human beings are experiencing every single day in our country. I am not speaking of human beings who are privileged. I’m speaking of the members of our community who are experiencing inhumane levels of disrespect, disregard, and harassment by other individuals within our communities. Anyone with a conscience should be appalled by what is happening in the United States. Anyone with a sense of logic or any whisper of intellectual breadth should be raising questions as to why the exact decisions are being made by all branches of the U.S. Government.

These decisions are actively hurting people. People who you may be neighbors with. People who may have helped you through a trying time. People who you may not know at all, but they are still human. Children learning, laughing, and praying in schools shouldn’t be afraid for their lives.

It’s simply not a question of if we can “agree to disagree” anymore. By actively supporting “leaders” who make decisions that hurt others, what does that say about you? Should I respect you? I am a forgiving person, but those who claim religious righteousness about their decisions are those same people that all too often can justify inhumane acts of violence. Don’t make the argument that one man’s death by gunfire is a tragedy when you say nothing regarding hundreds of children, mothers, fathers, and other family members. It’s dishonorable. It’s shameful. It’s devoid of anything resembling compassion.

I won’t pretend to be unbiased. I am biased. I’m biased towards wanting to make decisions that are for the good of all people, no matter where they come from. I’m biased towards decisions that help families create a better life for themselves, not to put up walls and convolute the process of becoming an American. Needing to bring your papers to the grocery store is a shameful turn this country has made.

Although these very words won’t be the most profound you’ve ever read, the message I wish to get across now should be very clear. Human rights, world order, and the very definition of equality are in a crisis. I believe it to be our individual jobs to teach our children, our families, our friends that thought patterns that reflect hate have no place in our communities. And no, you can’t pray away the hate. You can’t hope that God will deliver goodness. You are responsible for the actions and words you take and make.

I have had the privilege of a college education. I seek opportunities to learn more about what is outside my immediate bubble. That’s just me. I’m not telling you that you have to do the same. I have the privilege to hope for and work towards a graduate level education. I won’t be wasting this privilege.

If you think for one moment that you can ignore the severe and very real problems happening within the United States, it’s time to wake up. This is not the time to be complacent and defer responsibility to others. It’s time to speak up.

A respectable member of the global community commented on the term “equality”. The relentless path towards equality does not mean people’s individuality will be stripped from them. Rather, equality is “moving towards all people obtaining respect”. This same individual stated it is our call to action to reinvest in human rights. This is a time in our history that will be remembered for the rest of our lives.

This is only the beginning of my call to action. I’m committed to being on the path towards positive change and working towards the substantial recalibration that is needed in this country.