bigotry is cancer

{Any Poetry Readers out there?  Read my poem, Bigotry is cancer, submit a video or MP3 file, and I will post it on my blog.  Thanks! ~Yasmina}

The more I face the prospect of the cancer called bigotry- the more I am empowered.

Hate does not push people away. (Well- initially it does.  Just like cancer initially shocks- and devastates – and there is an urge to cave into it and give up and let it take over.)

But then the human spirit awakens.

And the human spirit becomes empowered to become everything that is not the cancer.

Everything that can fight the cancer.

Everything that will beat the cancer and rise above it.

Dear one of the human race, that I am part of, that you are part of, that he and she are part of: Make your choice.

1) Choose to wallow in cancer.

2) Be apathetic to the cancer (which aids and abets the first choice.)

3) Join a cancer walk.

We each have a choice.

I’m empowered in my choice to surround myself with people who are fighting cancer- and with people who believe in me.

Cancer is dark, dirty, painful, lonely, scary, horrific and kills bodies- bodies that we love- bodies that were our heroes- like bigotry deflates hearts and kills souls.

Cancer shaves years off lives like bigotry shaves years off living.

I choose to surround myself with hearts that are light and full and souls that are alive.

Souls that are optimistic.

Souls that will not take this one opportunity at life, this test- and let cancer win.

I will attempt to educate and inspire- my jihad.  It’s not up to me who accepts it or rejects it.

I give myself permission to walk away from every heart that is heavy and every soul that has already perished.

Freeing my time to inspire more- and enjoy the company of those that have permitted themselves the same.

And for them to inspire me.

Forever remaining hopeful of a cancer free world- blind of color and tribe.

One where time is better spent helping each other and loving.

Teaching our next generations how to live their lives with hearts that are light.

So they can better spend their time making the world better than we did.

Better than we did.

Yes, they can make the world better than we did.

About the Author

About the Author: I'm a Writer, Speaker and Muslim Activist. I'm a former Board Member of the #MyJihad Public Education Campaign. Follow my blog at yasminareality.com or follow me on Twitter: @yasmina_reality. I'm also now on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/YasminaReality Peace! More from this author.