Lisa Strawn, “Equality.” How did we get to the point in life that we have a hashtag for Trans Lives Matter and Black Lives Matter, and how do we as a society find a way to end the violence against these people? When will it be okay for any person in the U.S. to say we really do live in a free society, because so many people spend their lives inside of their own prison behind others’ beliefs and violence. We truly are not in a free world as we have been taught, because if we are free, then why do we have a problem with whom others choose to love and marry? And why can’t we accept everyone for what’s inside and not the color of our skin?
We don’t just pick these ideas up. We are taught from the time we are young to go against what should really matter about everyone. And when do we teach the children that you can be anyone you wish to and not to be judged by it? And when will we embrace those who are different by society’s standards and say, “You are just like me.” And want what I want: kindness, respect, and love. How have we gotten to the point that we have gotten that all lives matter, and there is supposed to be equality for everyone? Because when you say equality, it means just that: everyone. People need to tear down the egos, as was done to the Berlin Wall, and come together for equality as a whole.
Then it will be okay to begin to heal, stop the violence against their children and end the suffering that gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people face each day, just because others do not take the time to find out who a person is on the inside instead of what they see physically. But until we do this, we will keep having a hashtag for everything we don’t understand or try to accept and fix. Equality will only be when we truly become equal. Lisa Strawn: S, T, R, A, W, N, D01271, CMS, Vacaville. Equality.
These commentaries are recorded by Noel Hanrahan of Prison Radio.
