A Letter to EVERYONE.

Dear You,

Yes, you, the gay. Yes, you, the straight. Yes, you, the black, the white, the red, the green, the yellow, the blue, the guy with polka dots. Yes, you, the cripple. Yes, you, the guy with huge muscles. The girl with makeup who parties every night. The girl who sits at home drawing. Yes, you. Also, you, the guy cosplaying Deidara. You too, starving artist. You too. Everyone. I don't care how you describe yourself, what word or words will help me get across that I mean you. YOU.

There is a problem. I've seen people arguing about race. I've seen people arguing about religion. I've seen people arguing about sexuality. I've seen people arguing about each other's interests or appearances. And no, I don't mean "debating," because that implies that it's a respectful discussion. I'm talking about people straight-out bashing each other for their differences. And that's putting it nicely – there are people KILLING each other over these differences.

I don't give a crap who you are, what color your skin is, or how much money you have, or whatever. This shit. Has got. To stop. Do you understand me? STOP! I do not give a shit that you're gay. I do not give a shit that you're a Jew. That's very nice. That's great. But please, please, PLEASE stop flaunting it in that "holier-than-thou" fashion. Let's not take one trait and be like "I am this. Therefore, I am better than you." This, put simply, is bullshit logic. And because I am unable to have a cow, I have no need for your bull or its droppings. Besides, if this situation is any indication, that's some pretty toxic manure there. I doubt it'd be a good fertilizer.

On the other side of the spectrum. You, the one who looks at someone and thinks they're lower than you because of what they are. You're English, they're American. Therefore, they're stupid assholes. You too, "Makeup Girl" (nice lipstick by the way) and "Real Girl." Oh, and you, the one who calls skinny girls anorexic. Really? Maybe that girl IS anorexic. Maybe she feels like she's fat and ugly and now you're telling her something's wrong with her by calling her anorexic. Do you really believe she needs a knock to her self-confidence? Yeah, all of you. There is a problem here. Just because someone's different, you believe they're worse than you? What is that? Why lump every single person into a group?

For all of you. That's stereotyping. Are there people that will fit a stereotype? Obviously, because otherwise, that stereotype wouldn't be there. But that gives you NO basis to start pointing and labeling and assuming. So they have a short skirt. How does that automatically make them a slut? How does heavy black eyeliner make them an emo? Did you ever think that maybe the girl with the pastel blue sweater and a smile on her face always has that pretty lil' sweater on to cover up the scars over her arms? Did you ever think that maybe that Islamic boy over there was just as upset about September Eleventh as you were, if not more, and rues that someone would do something like that? And, hey, did you ever think that the homophobe that sits apart from you because you're practically drooling rainbows from your mouth (and because your friend in front of you is openly lesbian) would love to be your friend, would love to be tolerant and okay with you, but because they have homophobia – an actual FEAR – they can't? Like, hell, maybe they were abused as a child? Fears can be overcome, but let's see YOU conquer your fear of heights with a clap of the hands.

See, we're all different. We all have different pasts and different futures and backgrounds and experiences and outlooks. We all have different environments and ideas to see and ponder. We're not all alike. It's pretty damned hard to generalize nearly seven billion people into definite groups and, from that, accurately define every single one of them to a T. I'd say it's about impossible, unless you get together enough traits that you have nearly seven billion categories. We are all unique. We are all coming from different places. Our major commonality (or is it?) is that we are all homo sapiens.

With so much diversity within ourselves, is it really fair to pick one little factor and group and judge based on that tiny little factor? I'd say its not. Some people embrace that factor, yes, but that's NOT all that they are. People are so much more than that.

I'm not saying that if you have a bad thought about someone you're a bad person. Everyone has bad thoughts. Everyone gets jealous, everyone gets scared, and everyone, unfortunately, is subjected to preconceptions. Besides, thoughts are difficult to control – good thoughts and bad thoughts alike can and will pass through your mind. What I am saying is, don't use those little thoughts, those little snippets, as justification for judgment. Don't look at the part and automatically assume the whole. And, don't act on your thoughts. If you think "I can't stand people with purple hair," that's fine. Then you don't like purple hair. But don't walk around with a taser, shocking the color out of every violet head you see.

It's called respect. People are going to be their own way, and there will be people who don't like something about that way. Respect that someone is their way, though you don't like it, and those who are that way, respect that they don't like it. Agree to disagree. Put that one little factor aside – maybe discuss it and learn to understand a little better where each other is coming from. Maybe your opinion will change. Maybe it won't. And that's okay. But you know what, a level-headed, informed opinion is better than an instant conclusion. And being respectful about it is paramount. If you respect one another for your differences, you can actually get to a point where you DON'T try to punch each other's eyes out, or where you DON'T try to lynch each other for the way you are. It's not their fault they're gay. It's not your fault you're straight. It's not his fault he's Ethiopian. It's not her fault that she's Sioux. It's part of what they are. Whether they're proud of it or not, it's part of what they are.

Be proud of who and what you are, because they are parts of you. Your being gay doesn't define you. Your being black doesn't define you. Is it an influence? Sure. Is it part of who you are? Sure. But are you a walking Star of David? Do you like to do nothing more than reflect on how you're a nerd? Somehow, I doubt it. Somehow, I think there's more to you – you like to go bowling, for instance. Or, not only are you a Buddhist, but you're a Caucasian from Nigeria that loves to play the guitar and go fishing; also, you're amazing with numbers. See? There's a lot more to you than one thing. There's a lot more to you than meets the eye.

Now, before you get back to whatever it was you were doing, I have one last thing to say. I know you can't quite see it, per se, but I have a water bottle in my hand. See this little white thing on top? That's a bottle cap. I have several more of these at home, and if I see you all fighting about who's better and who's this and who's that…then I'm going to have to drink them all. Why? Because, in addition to losing a few pounds in water weight and getting wonderfully hydrated skin, I'm going to have an army of bottle caps. And I will NOT be afraid to pop some bottle caps in all your asses. Because this hate, this discord – it has to stop.

In sum: everyone's different. So, you know what? Shut the hell up and get along already.

We clear?

Much love and respect,

Me