Edyte and I met in 1982 at John H. Wood Middle School. Time and distance pass, but we are still the best of friends. I feel blessed to be part of her life.
Edyte is a first generation American, a mother of multiracial two (now grown) children, an artist, and a teacher. Her parents' story of emigration from Hungary to the United States is a powerful one. I hope she shares it with the world one day.
I share Edyte's piece with you so it may be shared with a broader audience.
I'm proud to call her friend!
#Resist #NoBanNoWall #ScienceMatters #BeTheChange #WomensMarch
I am signing up on the Muslim registry, if it actually comes to fruition. I will sign up not because I practice any religion but because I stand by my fellow Americans. I know too many beautiful, wonderful, amazing, dynamic Muslims. The school I teach at has a good proportion of Muslims and I stand by them. If they intern my little Muslim students, I will stand with them; go with them if need be. I will continue to educate them the best that I can. They shouldn’t be there alone.
I will support my nation’s children.
A Jewish registry will find my name on it as well. Not only because my grandparents ran during the war, uncles and aunts passed away during that horrible time, but also because our nation has had incredible contributions from this community that I refuse to ignore.
I will stand by these beautiful, strong people of our nation.
If there is a registry for any denomination of Christianity, I am registering with them as well. I do not practice any Christian religion but I stand with them regardless. We all have the right to practice our choice of religion and I stand by their choice.
I support all the people of this wonderful nation, regardless of their religious orientation.
When there is a registry for LGBTQ, I am signing it as well. There are too many close, personal friends and family in my circle that are LGBTQ that I cannot let them stand alone. Our great nation was built on their contributions as much as any others.
I support all the people of this great nation, regardless of their sexual orientation.
If there is a registry for people of color, be it brown, red, black, purple, green, or any other color, my name will be on it. This little red-headed freckled woman stands by all the people of any race because like most of us, I am a mix of all races. If I do not sign up, I will be denying a part of me and there is no part of me that I am willing to negate. There are too many people, past and present that have offered too much for this nation for me to not support them.
I support all the good people of my country, whatever their race.
Lists of any ethnicity will find my name on it as well. My family ancestry spans the entirety of Europe and Asia and beyond. People originally from America, from Ireland, Poland, Ukraine, France, Italy, China, Japan, Kenya, Ecuador, Mexico, and every other nation in the world are here to build an amazing country we call home.
I stand by their accomplishments and hard work. I support all Americans, regardless of their ethnicity.
I am signing a registry if it comes out for all those that are immigrants or first generation immigrants, legal, documented, or otherwise. Being first generation American, I am most likely already designated for this list but am proudly signing my name for whatever comes along. Alongside every other immigrant, my family has helped build this nation, which, aside from indigenous nations of First Peoples, is every person here.
I support anyone that comes to this nation to build a better life for themselves, their families and this country.
For those that are impaired in any way, I hold my hand up high and volunteer to join that listing as well. My grandparents were both deaf, so perhaps that is why they were running for their lives from Hitler’s regime? I don’t know and frankly, I don’t think it matters. They, and every other person, with or without a disability has made their own lovely contribution to the world we call home.
I support all the people of our America, regardless of ability. I am already part of the “registry” of women and am proud of it. Without women, none of us would be here. No amount of misogyny will diminish the strength I feel in my womanhood. I stand by all the women in this amazing nation.
I support all the people of the country I call my own, no matter what gender they profess. If scientists are held to a standard and become attacked for their profession, I stand by them as well.
I believe in the scientific method. If there is a list of climate change believers, of environmentalists, of conservationists, I will sign it as well. We are a people of intellect and diminishing truths cannot make the country better, rather it will mire us in self-destruction.
I stand by those working to make this a better world through science and knowledge.
What I will not stand by is bigotry, xenophobia, misogyny and hatred. I will not stand by as people are attacked, and ridiculed and hurt because of who they are, not what they have done. I will not stand by people condemning the good individuals of our great nation due to race, religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic backgrounds, belief systems, gender, origin or profession. I will support love and acceptance, hard work, tolerance, forgiveness and perseverance. I will support respect and loyalty, family and comradery. If this means I am on every registry so be it. If it means I am subjected to an internment camp, I will be there to support my people and to educate the children until the confinement is over. And I will keep fighting after.
I stand by the America I love.
