polar-solstice:

Here’s the thing: I haven’t stopped wearing my star of David openly since the election. 

I want people to look me in the eyes when they say the support this bigotry and know who they’re talking to. I will not hide who I am, and if they want to tell me my life doesn’t matter, my safety doesn’t matter, I want them to know that they then have to explain this to me. I want to put a face to their crimes, show them who I am.

When I tell them that hate crimes and anti-semitism are on the rise, I want them to look me in the eyes and justify it. When I tell them what’s happening in the world, what they’ve done, I want them to understand that I will not bite my tongue and use my white passing privilege to hide. I will not lie about who I am to make them feel safe and comfortable. And specifically because I am Jewish I want them to look me in the eyes and realize that I condemn their actions not because I’m a young and “brainwashed” liberal, but because I sat at the feet of their grandparents’ victims and learned “never again”. 

I am descended from those who survived their ancestor’s crimes. I will survive their crimes. But I will damn sure make them face what they have done. I will not hide. I will not be silent. I will name the monster for what it is, and I will make them acknowledge what they’ve done. And its already making them uncomfortable. Because now there’s a face they have to picture on these largely vague news articles. They remember me holding the elevator for them, refilling the coffee pot, giving them directions, sharing an umbrella. They remember me smiling at their children and petting their dog and giving my seat to the elderly. I want them to see me. 

I want them to know my face, know my name, and know what I am. I will not be silent for their comfort.