Human First...

When people ask me to identify myself, I generally start with my name.  Then I might add that I am a mother, a wife, a daughter, a sister, friend, etc.  I may throw in what I do for a living if it applies, or say where I live – or even where I have formerly lived.  That’s about all it takes, I think, to describe myself to a stranger.  If we want to get deeper, maybe I’ll elaborate with some of my favorite things – music I like, most loved foods, things I like to do that give a deeper look at who I am.

 

I am Terri.  I’m married to a great guy, have two great kids – girls – I come from a big, tight-knit family.  I love the beach, blues, bluegrass, rock and roll, and tacos, soup, and pot roast.  I read a lot of true crime, I talk to strangers, and I prefer to shop at thrift stores.  I think I am smart, funny, and kind to everyone who crosses my path.

 

You know what I never say?  “Hi, I’m Terri.  I’m an American.”  Because that has nothing to do with who I am.  Don’t get me wrong – I recognize my privilege.  I am grateful for my good fortune to be born here.  By some geographical jackpot, I landed here, where I am safe and free.  I got lucky and I don’t take that for granted.  I do my part to be a responsible citizen.  I vote, I pay taxes, I serve on jury duty when called.  Those are small prices to pay for being here. 

 

It’s also rare that I speak out to publicize my political stance.  I try to let my actions speak for me and lead by example in all that I do.  I always try to live my life in the middle of the road.  I don’t often feel the need to take sides because I can usually find merit in another point of view.  I may not always agree, but I always try to understand how a person comes to their opinion and consider what led them to that position.

 

Having said all that, there are times when the only right thing to do is to speak up.  When another’s actions are hurtful, they must be questioned.  Does that person doing the hurtful thing really understand what they’re doing?  Can they see beyond the immediate action and their desired outcome to fully register the ripple effects?  I want to believe that most people are good and that sometimes a person can get caught up in a destructive wave without considering the true fallout.

 

Unfortunately, while I have faith in humanity as a whole, there are still monsters in the mix.   Some of them happen to, unfortunately, be in positions of power that can bring forth terrible actions that serve only to feed voracious appetites for wealth, position, and ego.  Nothing good comes from those actions and if I choose to quietly ignore them, I am allowing them to continue to flourish.

 

The older I get, the less I take my American rights for granted.  As my life experiences have expanded my world view, my awareness of these luxuries has grown.  I didn’t have to do anything to earn them.  Meanwhile, people I love have made enormous sacrifices just to get here.  I know their stories – beginning in Africa, Panama, Cuba, Columbia, and so on - but I can’t really fathom what it takes for a mother to usher her children away from home in the middle of the night to flee dangers at the hands of horrible dictators who valued wealth and power more than human life.

 

This is where we are at the moment.  Right here in my homeland.  A cruel and dangerous dictator is trying to wield more power than should be available and those who are currently in a position to do something about it are afraid to speak up because it might cause them to lose some of their own wealth and power.

 

I have to assume that this is what allowed history’s monsters to gain strength and we were not connected in the way we are now.  News of despicable acts was slow to travel and by the time the world was aware, the damage was done and those who looked on did so either out of fear or out of their own greed.  That’s not the case today.  News travels fast.  Cameras are everywhere.  People are reporting and questioning.  The whole world is watching.  Human children, human mothers, human BEINGS are being hurt by the acts of misguided followers of monsters in power.

 

Here’s what I know:  Darkness cannot survive in the light.  Good is stronger than evil.  Behavior is contagious. 

 

I have great privilege as an American and that brings responsibilities.  I have freedoms that others only dream of and I know that.  As a HUMAN, I have responsibilities, too.  We are meant to care for one another.  We are meant to respect one another.  We are meant to come together to stand against danger.  It’s wired into our most basic instincts and I will not ignore that.

 

I am Terri.  I live in America, but most importantly, I live in love.  To my brothers and sisters all over the world, I SEE you.  I love you.  I will fight for you with the weapons I have – Voice, Vote, Kindness, and a Hand to hold.  That is my human responsibility.

 

I am Terri.  I’m married to a great guy, have two great kids – girls – I come from a big, tight-knit family.  I’m Human first.  American last.