I woke this morning with a conflicted heart. 

One of the last things I read last night on Facebook was from a friend who basically encouraged his white friends to work on rebuilding trust among minorities, women and others who are feeling the hate of a nation.

It’s a scary thought.

However, many comments on the thread below his post were people who attacked him for being brainwashed by the media or for not understanding the situation because racism is not rampant in America. 

I’m sorry, what? 

I would love to contribute to better understanding each other so we can move forward these next 4 years with love, respect and compassion.

We’ll never know someone’s situation unless we try to walk a mile in their shoes, so I’m sharing below some Facebook posts I read this morning.

These are the voices of college educated, wives, moms, including a police officer, who all happen to be beautiful, strong latina women.

Here are their voices:

• It’s open season for hate… we fell asleep in 2016 and woke up in 1950…

• My son came home from school today and said he hoped Trump didn’t win and that we were all going to die if he did. I know he didn’t hear that death talk from me. 

• Yes, we will have the talk about having the survival mentality. We will have that talk of tightening up that belt buckle and strapping on those boots and facing fear in the face. Mommy does it everyday. Even more these days.

• No matter who is president, I expect him to rise because that is what leaders do. #NoExcuses #Hardwork #Resilient #Brave

• I have hugged and comforted both my daughters today. I didn’t tell them it would be alright but that they are safe with us and that I’ll do all I can. That is all I can promise.

• My takeaway from all this was and is the same, whoever had won. This nation has shown their true face, and it is not a pretty one.  

• A lot of vulnerable people will be at risk, the fragility of the meager protections they had, exposed. Be there for the people who are hurting, and stand up for them when they come for their protections, even if yours aren’t at risk.

• So after we have a good cry, it will be time to organize and figure out the better ways to communicate so this becomes a last hurrah of racism, sexism and homophobia. It will be a hard road.

• As a Latina woman, I feel ashamed and disgusted, of what just happened in this country. If you had the bravery of voting for Donald Trump, you are a Racist! Plain and simple. Don’t give me the speech that Hillary was a liar…

• Don’t come to me with your hypocrisy here on Facebook expressing how much you care about me and my family, or how cute my accent is, or how cool and fun is going out with your Latino friends… You just showed me and the Hispanic community your true colors, and frankly I am not interested in your racist and hypocrite friendship. 

You may strongly agree or disagree with these comments. 

I understand.

I’m sharing them here on my blog so they can hopefully lead to open discussions, to heal, to build bridges.

I just wanted to share some voices to help us all try to see what Trump’s presidency means to some people so we can try to be a little more understanding and compassionate.

And as I always do, when the world seems out of whack I turn to God’s word for peace and direction.

What I read this morning in Phillipians could not have been more perfect for a day like today.

“If you’ve gotten anything at all out of following Christ, 

if his love has made any difference in your life, 

if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, 

if you have a heart, if you care — then do me a favor: 

Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. 

Don’t push your way to the front; 

don’t sweet-talk your way to the top. 

Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. 

Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage. 

Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.”

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭2:1-4‬ ‭MSG‬‬ https://bible.com/97/php.2.1-4.msg

Laughing (and loving) thru life,

Coppelia