Donald Trump campaigned for President by declaring that he would make America great again. If the America that has emerged in the seven months since Mr. Trump took office is an indication of the greatness to come, I want no part of it.
Shocked, I have watched, listened to and read reports about the violence that took place in Charlottesville, VA over this past weekend. Looking around, I cannot believe that this America is so far from the one that I grew up in. How is it that neo-Nazi, KKK, white supremacists, white nationalists and other hate groups are being validated now? I’m not so naïve as to believe that they have not existed before. They have. And they’ve been active since way before I was born. But now it seems that they’re being “normalized” or made “acceptable” by some in high-level government positions.
Growing up in the south, I know the history and the events that have shaped my home state of Alabama and our country. I’ve seen the videos where protestors had fire hoses and police dogs turned on them. I know that Alabama Governor George Wallace uttered the words, “segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever,” and stood in the doorway of the University of Alabama trying to prevent the enrollment of black students.
Very recently I visited the 16th Street Baptist Church here in Birmingham. This is where on September 15, 1963, 4 white men, members of the KKK planted 19 sticks of dynamite that upon exploding killed 4 young black girls and injured 22 other people. Sitting in a pew in that church, I could not comprehend that 4 young lives were ended simply because of the color of their skin.
And the hate is still happening today.
What part of, “love one another” do these so-called hate groups not understand? As a matter of fact, Jesus not only commands us to “love one another,” but He says to do it, “as I have loved you.” (John 13:34) I dare say that some members of these hate groups call themselves “Christians” and attend church regularly, yet they spew hate and participate in violent protests against other races, religions and others they deem as lesser than themselves. This hardly lives up to the command of love.
We’re all created in God’s image. See Genesis 1:27, “So God created man in His own image; in the image of God created He him; male and female created he them.” So as someone treats a black person, a Jewish person, a Hispanic person, or any other as lesser than, they slight God and treat Him as lesser than as well.
If you don’t accept what the bible says, how about going back to the Constitution that says, “We hold these truths to be self evident, that ALL men are created equal…..” Or how about the ending of our Pledge of Allegiance that says, “liberty and justice for ALL.”
Those are pretty clear indications for the support of equality for all people.
Nobody is born a hater. We are all born to love, it’s an innate trait in all of us. Sadly some 
are taught to hate. Hate is not a natural trait, it’s learned. How do we stop the hate? Love.
Martin Luther King, Jr. said it best when he said, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”
It’s time for us that have been on the sidelines or have been “armchair quarterbacks” or “backseat drivers” to stop talking and start doing. It’s time for us to make a difference and drive the hate out. It’s time for us to say something if we see something contrary to love and equality. It’s time for action so that we can become the people that our Creator intended – people of love. It’s time for us to become the nation that our founding fathers intended – a nation of equals.
As for me, all people regardless of color, nationality, sex, religion, sexual orientation, age, belief or non-belief you are all welcome and safe in my home and life. I love you all.
Enjoying the journey.
Patrick Carden
I'm A Gracist 