Bridges

"Build bridges, not walls"

That, and many other phrases, has become a declaration of peace and love which people are showing one another in wake of the horrible and disgusting executive orders given out by the US government and its top players.

As an American, I'm horrified (and terrified) of what's happening in our country...and it's only been, what, less than two weeks?

Unity.
Peace.
Acceptance.
Love.
Kindness.
Freedom.

Those are the things which I thought this country stood for; the things I grew up practicing.

Every morning in elementary school, we would stand up, face the flag in the classroom, and recite the following:
"I pledge allegiance
To the flag
Of the United States of America
And to the republic
For which it stands
One nation
(Under God)
Indivisible,
With liberty and justice for all."

Now, in elementary school, much of that were just words.  We really had no clue of what they meant, except the belief we were raised in which was "land of the free and home of the brave".  It didn't stop bullying, but I don't remember my parents ever freaking out over racist and xenophobic issues when I was a kid.  My uncle went to war for this country; while I didn't understand that completely as a child, I did understand, via history class, that many people fought (and died) so that I could sit there at my desk and learn about it.

Granted, at the time, I would have rather been playing soccer or reading fantasy novels...but once I hit around 11 or 12 years old, I started to understand a little more.

I was a proud American.  Even now, I'm a proud American...for the values which I grew up with.  What's been going on lately with all of the hate, racism, bullying, and home-grown terrorism...that's not American.  That's not the America I grew up with; the America I'm proud of...the America I want to live in.
What is this country, now?  In just a few days, we've been challenged on all of the love and acceptance that any decent human being with a proper moral compass would have.

I'm proud of the people who went out and protested.
I'm proud of the people who went to JFK and the other airports to protest the Muslim ban.
I'm proud of General Sally Yates for following through on her word from 2015 and standing up for what's morally right over concern for her job.
I'm proud of the journalists who are saying "NO" to gag orders and threats to the media and still getting out there and reporting to the people what we have a right to hear instead of what the higher-ups want us to hear.
I'm proud of the people on the inside who are making special accounts on Twitter because the higher-ups attempted to silence them.
I'm proud of anyone, anywhere, who is fighting against this age of white supremacy, racism, and hatred.  Yes, I'm white...but I don't care what a person's skin color is.  I don't care if you're brown, or black, or gay, or a bronie, or from another planet! 

They want to divide us...well, anyone who is against these policies should rise up together.  Even if it's as small as sharing proper news on social media sites, or making your own drawings/poetry/etc; the higher-ups don't like the arts or educated people.  Knowledge is power!  Propaganda is fake news...or "alternative facts", whichever you want to call it.
Given time and nobody to push back, they would create a fascist nation out of this country I (and I'm sure many others) grew up loving.
Right now, people are pushing back.  Many people, myself included, wonder what we can do to help these movements.  Don't be afraid to come out to support those who are fighting against this racist regime, or add your voice to the mix. 
They want you to be afraid.  That's why you have to muster your courage.
Even if it's to salute the protesters fighting for our rights, or share news on social media to help educate other people...that's still doing something.  If you're able to get involved in planned marches, then get involved!  If you want to start a wave and a march, then don't let fear hold you back!
I'm no good with crowds of people, so I can't go march...but I'll try to get my voice out there in other ways...like my art.

Don't wall yourself up...build a bridge.  This is a time when we need as much human compassion and empathy as we can possibly get; a time when "love thy neighbor" isn't just some quote people toss around like confetti, but a value to believe in.

A hateful minority currently has control of the country and are doing horrible things to innocent people.  The cabinet is filling up with even more racists.

That's why we have to stand above that.  We have to show ourselves, show the racist bullies, and show the world that this is not the country we proudly grew up in...and we want that country we love back.


Disclaimer:  All characters in this drawing are owned by me.  From left to right is:  TJ/Toby, Benny, Kon, and Fletcher.


If you like this artwork and wish to help support me in doing them, please take a look at my patreon page at www.patreon.com/mdchan