I Woke Up to Hate Mail

Today, I got this message in my FB messenger inbox.

Let me back up a bit to what preceded this message. I’m part of a group called Stupid Michelle & Dumb Robin where Michelle Sims and I produce, write, and act in funny, irreverent short films.

When Donald Trump won the election, we felt helpless. We wanted to do something. We knew that this was the time for us to make our voices heard; not just make another funny video.

We were both scared. What would happen if we stepped into the heated debate that politics has become?

But we refused to allow fear to stop us. We talked ourselves off the ledge. We claimed the world artist and we put together a script, rounded up talented actors and begged our producer to work on short notice, in freezing temperatures, for very little money.

We made a short and were proud to post it.

This morning I woke up to that note; a personal attack from one man who doesn’t agree with our point of view, or I guess, our right to share it.

Surprisingly enough, I’m not mad at this man. My first reaction was to be sad for him. What an angry life he must lead.

But my next thought was I need to share his message with as many people as I can. Because all people, no matter whom they voted for, need to understand that this kind of hate-speak is happening regularly in our country right now. Both sides need to speak out against the appalling hatred that has been unleashed during this election.

We need to fight against the hatred. With art. With love. With legislation.

The message in our video was simple; if our country is not careful, this is our future.

Let’s commit to talk to each other. Like civilized human beings who happen to have different points of view. But let’s agree on one thing; to bring hate-speak out into the light of day and to do our best, together, to stamp it out.

Discuss.