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Why We Should Do More Than Coexist In Trump’s America

In 1990, a deadly genocide began in Rwanda, leading to the deaths of nearly 800,000 people. After years of tensions between the Hutu and Tutsi tribes, the colonial power of Belgium led them to war. Belgium deemed the Tutsi superiors to the Hutu and resentment grew even further. The tribes had coexisted before, unhappy with the other, but not in a state of violence. They considered each other as rivals politically. After the attacks began, there were no other sides to fight for, and if you were not in favor of one, you were an automatic enemy of the other. Respect for others was irrelevant as the Hutu and Tutsi fought for a feeling of superiority rather than the need for survival. As one group is considered greater, tension is spurred and the feeling of inequality is planted in a once peaceful society.

Today, cars and buildings are plastered with the iconic and beautiful coexist symbol. While this movement seeks to create collaboration and connection between diverse groups, I believe that to truly accomplish peace in any nation today, we must do more than just coexist.

To coexist is to live independently and peacefully as adversaries, but if we truly want to live in a state of harmony, we should not consider those of another belief system to be inferior to ourselves.

Many religions call their followers to spread their message through mission work, to preach of love and goodness or to be generous and kind to all people. While these goals often drive someone’s actions, others may have a belief system or morality that disappears when they speak to someone of a different background. They resort to insults and violence rather than seeking an understanding or relationship that could lead to growth in both people. It is important to bond together no matter what you choose to believe. Find something stronger than coexisting. Bridge the gap with care, interest, and love for others. Ask what they believe, see what drives them and learn what they believe their purpose is. Always seek compassion and kindness when learning about a new culture and find a respect for that culture despite a personal conflict. Your beliefs do not give you the right to judge someone for their own. The act of looking to educate oneself on another culture is one of the first steps of supporting peace.

In 2017, we now enter Trump’s America. Our new president has a history of degrading and attacking people on the grounds of religion, gender, and race. Often times, these attacks were in response to his morals or abilities being questioned. President Trump has used our differences as citizens to divide us further. The details of one’s life should not be used as a basis for insults, no matter what you believe. If President Trump is truly in favor of a peaceful and prosperous nation, he will retire from his juvenile defense mechanisms and focus on uniting people through their differences. His taunts, insults and rage play into the minds of those who seek to destroy diversity and become superiors. The Hutu and Tutsi tribes once fought when one was deemed greater, so it is not at all absurd to wonder what may happen in America when our president attacks groups and praises others. Their tensions did not last forever, and eventually, a genocide began when their disdain for one another was not addressed. Each year, violence continues to grow in America and we must consider the options to bridge gaps and create peace. If we are fighting against stereotypes of a people group, we will never achieve this. Prejudice will never draw peace into any nation and we cannot accept enmity. We must choose to love rather than simply exist independently of other groups.

It is time to join together in love despite our diverse beliefs and backgrounds. Diversity, in fact, creates discussion, personal growth, unity, and compassion, and is not something that divides. No matter what you believe, if you seek peace, I encourage you to do more than coexist. Learn to love.

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