People like me

People like you. May you reap what you sow.

A “friend of a friend” responded to me on Facebook in a way that has become all too familiar across social media platforms. Instead of dialoguing on the merits of their own viewpoint, they pivot to a personal attack.

People like me...

I am a Christian.

I am the granddaughter of an Army combat engineer who served his country for more than four decades, including two World Wars and the Korean War. I am the daughter of a career Army Infantry officer who deployed twice to Vietnam and once to Iran. I am the spouse of an Army Signal officer who spent multiple tours in combat zones defending our country after a plane barely missed his office in the 9/11 Pentagon attack.  I am the mom of two daughters and the “gigi” of four grandchildren. I am a cybersecurity professional who has made a career supporting the Department of Defense in protecting our country’s networks. My family has sacrificed much defending another person’s right to be ugly to me on social media.

I have lived in eight states and one foreign country. I have traveled to another 23 states and five countries. This has exposed me to a multitude of people from a variety of backgrounds and shaped my tolerance for political viewpoints that do not align with my own. I have seen firsthand that my problems are not the same as my neighbors’ problems. I try and understand that their needs and drivers can be very different from my own. I believe diversity in people and opinion should inspire us, not divide us. 

I have voted Republican and Democratic. I have spoken for and against the current president, as I have for our previous presidents. I stand by my principles, not by a political party. 

I am a person who seeks to spread harmony in this world, but I am finding it harder and harder to do so against a backdrop of an injustice that cries out for revolutionary change. I have seen disparity in how my black friends are treated in our world compared to my white friends. I have seen the harm caused to them by unchecked racism. I cannot turn a blind eye to injustice to keep the peace, but I  will not foster further division by repaying hatred with hatred. 

As a Christian, I am called to love my neighbor as myself. Even if that neighbor and I are very different; even if that neighbor is unkind to me; even if that neighbor sows hatred.

I hope someday to reap what I sow—understanding, grace, love, equality and peace.