There’s an undercurrent of anger and hate rising to the surface of our American society that is pervading our hearts, our families, and our country.

As a mother of three young children, this anger and hate scares me. It’s keeping me up at night as I worry for my children and for our country. Churches are being burned. People are screaming insults at others who are different from them, in looks and in beliefs. Children are yelling offensive words at other children who are different from them. Swastikas are showing up around the country with increased frequency.

A culture of hate is rearing its ugly head. It feeds on anger, spawns violence and disrespect, and breeds intolerance. It is in opposition to the very values upon which America was created, that “all men are created equal.â€

Simmering Beneath the Surface

Of course, racist, bigoted, misogynistic, violent tendencies have always simmered beneath the surface of society. But it has become more and more acceptable to speak and act like this. And this culture of hate is spreading as it gains acceptance, like a contagious virus, among more and more people.

The Scottish journalist/poet Charles Mackey famously concluded that “men…go mad in herds.†And no wonder. It’s easy to absorb the negativity when we’re among others who are angry and shouting, but at some point, we need to take a step back and reflect on what our own hearts are saying. We need to stop and understand what this hate and anger is doing to the very fabric of our society. And most important, we need to stop and understand what it is doing to our children.

Our children hear and our children see hateful words and actions and they process it as being okay.

Valerie Latona

The Rise in Bullying

Bullying is on the rise in schools around the country. One mother shared with me that, while watching a soccer game, she overheard one child calling an opposing teammate a “stupid Muslimâ€. “You’re getting shipped back to Mexico†is what some kids shouted to a group of Latino children.

No matter how much we reassure children that this hate won’t affect them, this is what is keeping them up at night. My own Guatemalan nephew-an American citizen and middle schooler-worries that he’s not a true American and is going to get shipped back to Guatemala without his family.

We are a country built on immigrants. We are all descended from immigrants yet THIS. How quickly we forget.

We are all humans, together, in this thing called life.

Valerie Latona

And call me naïve, but why does the very essence of who we are as humans-no matter what color our skin, what person we decide to marry, what language we speak, or what religion we worship-have to become embroiled in politics?

Our differences now define us more than our similarities.

Take a Moment to Pause

It is time to take a moment to stop, step away from the mob mentality, put our political affiliation “badge†aside, and follow our conscience and our hearts. As I say to my young daughter: “Always do what feels good to you on your inside.â€

Under the hate, anger, and violence, I do optimistically believe that we can all respect each other-again. But we must work hard at cultivating it. And we must have leaders that cultivate it.

Every night, I say a prayer with my daughter and my sons before bed: “May truth, honesty, integrity, morality, justice, and kindness prevail.†I say the same prayer for our children, for our country, and for this election. May we banish the culture of anger, violence, intolerance, and disrespect from our hearts-for us, for our children, and for this country: “one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.â€