tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4071987159907366396.post2677342565110362560..comments2024-03-22T04:01:14.613-04:00Comments on Life According to Steph: It's not about being political. It's about being human. SMD @ lifeaccordingtostephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09884611147965544589noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4071987159907366396.post-37911762350830715502017-02-27T10:45:03.130-05:002017-02-27T10:45:03.130-05:00I just had this exact conversation with a dear, ha...I just had this exact conversation with a dear, hard-working woman who is an illegal immigrant. What she is experiencing is heartbreaking. She is terrified. And I am so afraid that she and her husband will be sent back to the abject poverty they escaped in Honduras. Her oldest son is buried there, the 2 younger ones are American citizens, born here. <br />What have we become? And how do we prevent ouselves from becoming inured to all this? The political fatigue is overwhelming. I imagine that's what he is counting on... <br />Three of Cupshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07504198212822541481noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4071987159907366396.post-56054170262110595202017-02-23T11:46:24.429-05:002017-02-23T11:46:24.429-05:00God, you're good.God, you're good. BHShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05452646552597239826noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4071987159907366396.post-57556800865189238822017-02-23T09:49:11.929-05:002017-02-23T09:49:11.929-05:00This this this. I hate how hypocritical people ar...This this this. I hate how hypocritical people are and how they can't even see their own bias. I'm all for respecting the opinions of others, but when you are blindly hating something because it's wrong because you are ignorant of things outside your circle, I can't respect that. It's not me, it's definitely you. <br /><br />How do people not SEE it? That is what I can't wrap my head around. How are people still supporting these archaic, slanted views that are harming other PEOPLE?Teh Meganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13715128040792877195noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4071987159907366396.post-50093148351723122842017-02-22T23:24:10.033-05:002017-02-22T23:24:10.033-05:00All.
Of.
This.
Every.
Single.
Fucking.
Word.All.<br />Of.<br />This. <br /><br />Every. <br />Single.<br />Fucking.<br />Word.sara [at] journey of doinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09328180529729262449noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4071987159907366396.post-9100622582235555512017-02-22T22:51:05.271-05:002017-02-22T22:51:05.271-05:00Steph, I appreciate you praising your friend that ...Steph, I appreciate you praising your friend that you think is more eloquent than you...but there are many of us that direct that same praise towards you. So, thank you for being more eloquent on many of these subject matters than I am. I am finding myself having so much difficulty expressing myself in an articulate way, that I'm not putting my thoughts and feelings out there. They just seem to sound like a mess. And, I feel so strongly about some things, I feel like they deserve more than messiness. Does that make sense? So, continue doing what you do. Thank you.Erin of TexErin-in-SydneyLandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09744003004126232764noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4071987159907366396.post-53251831046676785972017-02-22T19:16:17.848-05:002017-02-22T19:16:17.848-05:00That's exactly right- I work with so many Musl...That's exactly right- I work with so many Muslims (both internally and as clients). And guess, what - their religion is forgettable. And what I mean by that is that it's not more a point of discussion or interest in my relationship with them than anything else is. "They" (like you said, hate saying that as if it is a lump sum) are kind, hard-working, friendly and positive contributors to our society. Based on my unofficial perspective, all the ones who I hear clamoring on about how scary they are are people who live in rural areas. Which also (unofficially) leads me to believe that they just don't have interactions with Muslims. It's sad and scary and I believe that many people would benefit by just meeting others who are different than them. There are bad eggs in every group but to liken an entire religion to their extremists is horrible. It's like banning Christians because the Westboro Baptist Church is what they are. It doesn't make sense. I'm all for security and ensuring the safety of our nation. But I'm not for this as a means to that. If anything, it fans the flames of those who hate us. Ugh. good on you for going and for those women for speaking their truths. We must all be kinder to one another.Caitlin @ Candyfloss & Persiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10643817536737845811noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4071987159907366396.post-35812847737429396252017-02-22T11:23:55.306-05:002017-02-22T11:23:55.306-05:00Well said! I'm in 100% agreement. As someone w...Well said! I'm in 100% agreement. As someone who claims to be Christian I am appalled at what others can do in the name of "Jesus". I don't want someone labeling me as one of those Christian extremists because I'm so far from that, so why can't we do the same for other religions? They are humans who HAPPEN to have a certain religious belief and that doesn't define them. Just like whether or not someone is a dog person or a cat person. It's something they do and believe in but not something we can use to discriminate against. It's just different than us. This comment probably makes zero sense but...I agree with you. I hear you. I acknowledge and I want to help! Aprilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11274306444310696264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4071987159907366396.post-38056815719538629882017-02-22T11:08:07.337-05:002017-02-22T11:08:07.337-05:00I love this post and the thoughts that it provokes...I love this post and the thoughts that it provokes. I absolutely agree that people should not have to defend their religion in public. I can't stand how prejudged people are based on race and religion in the western world. There are a lot of great "meet-and-greet" type events happening in my community here and we hope to partake in one soon. I have a few friends who work with refugees and immigrants from a psychological help standpoint and their views are always eye-opening to me. Heather @ The Maritime Readerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14334570091224362628noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4071987159907366396.post-77103758558522739262017-02-21T22:17:10.507-05:002017-02-21T22:17:10.507-05:00So much yes in this post. Like Jana, I too live in...So much yes in this post. Like Jana, I too live in a rural area where events like these should be happening to widen people's narrow views. I cried the other day watching my local news of Syria families, fleeing the US and illegally crossing the Canadian border. We are supposed to be the safe haven. We are not a third world country where anyone, regardless of color or anything else, should feel unsafe. Rose @ Ramblin' Rosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08538480548206268617noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4071987159907366396.post-24784012891678958032017-02-21T22:06:14.917-05:002017-02-21T22:06:14.917-05:00God bless you and I'm bursting with pride. I d...God bless you and I'm bursting with pride. I didn't see this earlier because I was getting TSA pre check clearance. This is horrible. No one should be pre- judged. Good God, I don't want anyone to assume because we are white , we voted for GOP or DT. This will make things turn around for the better. I know it. So extremely proud of you. Love. Your. Momma. Linda Sheridanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03719274719027029150noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4071987159907366396.post-10785480304041489942017-02-21T21:20:23.737-05:002017-02-21T21:20:23.737-05:00Thank you for writing this. It's incredible. I...Thank you for writing this. It's incredible. Insightful. Passionate. Just what I expect from you. I definitely need to do more research to see what I can do to be more proactive in my community.Micahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05855902602026706552noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4071987159907366396.post-81428043224460166092017-02-21T20:16:04.246-05:002017-02-21T20:16:04.246-05:00I live in a pretty redneck, backward place (I mean...I live in a pretty redneck, backward place (I mean, we have some people like me but more not like me) and I can't imagine this even being presented as an idea. And where I live is absolutely the kind of place that needs it. I mean, hell, there was a FB war over a parent being pissed that Islam was being taught in the public schools (alongside other religions, btw). Like you, it makes my blood boil that the kinds of things that are happening are happening. While we, collectively, have learned from history, our elected officials clearly have not. And THAT is a huge problem. Jana @ Jana Sayshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15501814243709445827noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4071987159907366396.post-26357447792198221582017-02-21T20:07:50.823-05:002017-02-21T20:07:50.823-05:00This post is so powerful and I love how you always...This post is so powerful and I love how you always use your platform to speak truth that we all need to read. This is slightly related but something I wanted to share... when I was in Morocco last month (a Muslim country), I was treated 100% with respect and felt completely safe. I couldn't help but think that if these people were visiting America, they probably wouldn't be treated with the same decency.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4071987159907366396.post-63704420590426635562017-02-21T15:29:45.505-05:002017-02-21T15:29:45.505-05:00Those last lines especially. Yes. I wish that we c...Those last lines especially. Yes. I wish that we could get people who aren't exposed to those who are different than them, to those people. It would broaden their horizons SO easily and quickly! We are much more alike than we are different. I'm reading The Nightingale right now, and it's emotional and it's hard to read, because it's not only a reminder of what happened, but what is in the process of happenING and it's effing terrifying to me. We look back at that time in history and shake our heads, point fingers and say "shame shame shame" but why can't we look at what is happening RIGHT NOW in front of our faces? The blatant racism and bigotry and say "wait a minute..." I just don't understand how there are SO MANY people out there who have such hatred for people they don't know.Jennhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11330910749491673996noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4071987159907366396.post-35383893950630927262017-02-21T15:13:20.713-05:002017-02-21T15:13:20.713-05:00first off, bravo to those women. of course i hate ...first off, bravo to those women. of course i hate that it is happening and that they were fielding questions they shouldn't have to, but seriously, bravo to them nonetheless.<br />'When you put faces to these people, it is a lot harder to be okay with being hateful and fearful of something you don't know much about.' - preach.<br />Kristen @ See You In A Porridgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09592108031437491276noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4071987159907366396.post-17527810702975427532017-02-21T14:50:23.991-05:002017-02-21T14:50:23.991-05:00YES!!!! Thank you so much for sharing this. ^^^^I ...YES!!!! Thank you so much for sharing this. ^^^^I agree 100% with Meg! We are such a diverse melting pot and it's so important to preserve that.Jenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01092211937888152360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4071987159907366396.post-55049439029853452532017-02-21T14:20:57.874-05:002017-02-21T14:20:57.874-05:00This post. YES! I cannot believe in 2017 that we n...This post. YES! I cannot believe in 2017 that we need to have an event like the one you attended. We need empathy, we need to realize that we are a melting pot, not the "Christian" country some people want to see us as. Thank you for writing this. Meg Taylorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05243003602489504292noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4071987159907366396.post-34308666073366671742017-02-21T12:17:09.100-05:002017-02-21T12:17:09.100-05:00I wish that those that *needed* to attend these me...I wish that those that *needed* to attend these meet-and-greets would. But I would also hate to subject those kind women to the type of treatment they might get. You are a shining example of how to be human, Steph.Tiffany https://www.blogger.com/profile/05659888815010707213noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4071987159907366396.post-56449419249810560172017-02-21T12:01:40.159-05:002017-02-21T12:01:40.159-05:00I hate that any group of people needs to have a me...I hate that any group of people needs to have a meeting to defend their culture or religion. Honestly though, I think that most people need to stop being ignorant in their knowledge of other cultures and religions and attend things like this to get facts. Most people run off the common knowledge of what they see or hear online these days and we all know the trouble that can lead to.Nadinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06920454010509077779noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4071987159907366396.post-63384918630317711972017-02-21T11:59:42.444-05:002017-02-21T11:59:42.444-05:00When I was 7 years old, I had to go in front of my...When I was 7 years old, I had to go in front of my classmates and share about being Korean. Except, I'm adopted and didn't know shit about Korea. All I knew was that I was different and people made fun of my eyes. Another boy had to share too. He was Jewish. Yup, that was diversity where I grew up. And I can remember this so clearly 35 years later how uncomfortable that felt. I am also angry that those women and countless other Muslims or people who are supposedly different have to do things like that. At the same time, I am also grateful that people are showing up to support them, to be that friendly face in the audience and to let them know that they are seen and not feared. I hate how people use religion (every religion) to justify hate. I often imagine God and Allah, in particular, spend their day apologizing to one another over what horrible act their followers have committed on their behalf. We are just one race, the human race, and we need to embrace that. We need to see beyond skin color, sexual orientation and race and stop demonizing those who are outwardly different. We are just people. And you are always very eloquent. :DTanya @ A Mindful Migrationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12662395965850097235noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4071987159907366396.post-70997123037723076732017-02-21T11:52:37.708-05:002017-02-21T11:52:37.708-05:00I just want to say - I think you're amazing. ...I just want to say - I think you're amazing. A lot of people out here feel the same way as you but don't necessarily put their money where their mouth is -- they complain, they get mad, they post their outrage online, but they aren't necessarily "doing" anything to help. And I've noticed since Election Day you've been rallying, marching, protesting and partaking in things like this and it shows just how much you care & want to take action. It's so admirable!Ali Arnonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15481407457549302387noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4071987159907366396.post-9368255398323641862017-02-21T11:22:38.243-05:002017-02-21T11:22:38.243-05:00I love that you attended that meeting to be a frie...I love that you attended that meeting to be a friendly face, and I hate that just because you're a certain religion or race that you have to constantly defend who you are. Just like radical judgmental Christians give Christianity a bad name, radical muslims have given muslims a bad rep. It's so sad that a select few idiots can tarnish a whole religion or race. Sending lots of *hugs* and more goldfish to MFD.Kate at Green Fashionistahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11104665064880942943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4071987159907366396.post-33687458168421863082017-02-21T11:19:37.440-05:002017-02-21T11:19:37.440-05:00Rotating weekly dinner parties with people that ar...Rotating weekly dinner parties with people that are different from us is the GREATEST idea.Heather Lockharthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10312358963549375876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4071987159907366396.post-14831651341417816982017-02-21T11:08:32.190-05:002017-02-21T11:08:32.190-05:00Whoa weird spacing :) Whoa weird spacing :) Amber Khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07784191631606085116noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4071987159907366396.post-83047825380828424192017-02-21T11:08:02.050-05:002017-02-21T11:08:02.050-05:00I shared this article (http://www.greenvilleonline...I shared this article (http://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/opinion/contributors/2017/01/20/commentary-muslim-teachers-new-years-message/96840626/) with a friend earlier this year right after the election. It talks about the idea of getting to know your neighbor who is different from you and how important that is. It's easy to not do that, but so important that we do. Classifying people who practice any religion other than Christianity as 'other' and highlighting only their issues makes it harder to bring us together. And is probably the goal of certain groups of people and it makes me so angry. I met with a group of almost 90(!) like minded people Sunday and it gave me hope :) Amber Khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07784191631606085116noreply@blogger.com