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All of Us (Sasha Massey - Lafayette, LA)

We have so few days to be good to people. No matter how hard they work against an established pattern or what little good they acknowledge in themselves. What remains is that while we live and learn we have to keep teaching. The choice to help the poor or shame them can be taught.  Aside from biases set up to defeat black and brown people we have what seem to be the same chances as anyone. It’s a bitter thing to live every day with the stress of fear and exclusion, but when we choose good it makes the world better. People folding up like lawn chairs for a lie they were sold are just as likely to turn away and accomplish true good in the world. Hate, poverty, and the violence and limitation of rights of women are not ‘us or them’ problems. They are Human problems. We can solve them. We can heal the world if we work together for good. To protect children. To grant every access to a full education of their home, our world which further enriches and improves the future they will grow up in. Woman can have full rights over their bodies, their skills and their families. Males can be taught true respect of all people. No matter their age, skin color, where they come from or what genitals they have. Homeless people can be taken care of just as well as terminally ill and elderly people. They can be reintegrated into society and have proper homes, food and care. These are just a few things we can do, but for this to work and last…it’s going to require everyone striving together for a common good. Not just one social group or religious sect. Not just poor people pooling all their money. Not just rich people and corporations finally paying their fair share taxes. 
All of us.

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