I Wonder If It’s Time to Buy A Gun!

I have lived in the United States all of my nearly 69 years, and never once have I felt the need to overcome my fear of hurting someone to purchase a gun. But, the atmosphere in America today, the blatant hate rhetoric in the Unitd States gives me pause for reflection on whether this may be the time to consider a gun as necessary to protect myself and my loved ones.

Seeing a sign at the so-called Million MAGA March by pro-Trump supporters on Saturday that stated, “Coming for blacks and Indians first, welcome to the New World Order,” was disturbing. Considering the new Vice-President elect is Black and Southeast Asian, I don’t know if Indians mean Native Americans or Southeastern Asians, but either way, it is disgusting and should be condemned.

I believe in the First Amendment right to free speech, and I would defend the writer’s right to his or her opinions and thoughts. It just makes me afraid that there are fellow Americans wanting to harm other Americans because of the color of their skin. It is a means of provoking the hate speech that has been too common over the last four years.

This sentiment could be overlooked if it were an aberration, but it is indicative of the racial hate that has emerged as conservative politicians in concert conservative pundits have discovered that this type of rhetoric can win elections. It is a standard means of divide and conquer, swtiching the ideas of we are all in this together to messages that Blacks and other people of color are anarchists, anti-American, unpatriotic, and the cause of some whites’ economic failures.

As a sociologist, I seek to understand why racial hate has become so prevalent and somewhat acceptable. I have bought several books on how we came as a nation to be so divided, such as Arlie Hochschild’s Strangers in Their Own Land: Anger and Mourning on the American Right and Robin Diangelo’s White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk about Racism.

I want to comprehend what causes such rabid hate, so that I can be part of the solution. But, just knowing that some people advocate my demise and that of my Black and Indian brothers and sisters, frightens the living daylights out of me. And, I need to consider how best to protect my family and myself, praying to God, in the name of Jesus Christ, whom I believe in with all my heart, that such actions will never come to fruition.

And if that means having a gun, then maybe it’s time to consider that option. I want to be sure that if anyone comes for me, it will be an exercise that they won’t find easy and will regret. We are all Americans. Record numbers of people voted in this historic election, despite all of the shenanigans by Republicans to institute new voter suppression in Black communities.

Let’s move on, America, and pull together to fight against a common enemy: the coronavirus, which is decimating our country in both urban and rural areas, across race and ethnicity, social classes, and age groups. If we are going after anything, let it be economic stability for all Americans, and not just for the wealthiest 20 percent.

At this rate, Russia can just sit back and watch America self-implode, never firing a shot. A country divided simply cannot continue to stand against its enemies. They are too busy fighting each other. Love is what we need to advocate and practice, not hate. Lord knows, I don’t want to hurt anyone, but I also don’t want anyone to hurt me and mine.

Fandango prompt is Aberration. Ragtag prompt is Emerge. Word of the Day Challenge is Provoke. Your Daily Prompt is Switch. The Daily Spur prompt is Concert.