PIECES OF ME - STOP THE HATE

Photo from: www.campuspride.org

Times like these are difficult. There are crisis everywhere; the siege in Marawi, the EJK brought upon by the war on drugs in our country. The displacement of Rohingyas in Myanmar. The calamities in US and South America. Mass shootings in US and other terror attacks in Europe to name a few. It's crazy. It's as if all the love in the world is gone and replace by hate. And the sad part is, people are dying.

I saw a recent post on twitter calling out a certain social media personality on how he sympathized with what was happening in another country. Some people are calling him out for, apparently, sympathizing with a foreign country but staying silent on issues in his own land. There was a slander of tweets mocking him, cursing him and throwing shade on what his work is, just because of one tweet. JUST BECAUSE OF ONE TWEET. 

What I don't get is why people do this. Why make a big deal out of someone who just wants to express his thoughts or feelings? Why is there need to bring down someone just because you think your opinion is much better than his? Why should you ridicule a person for saying what he feels?

I did read some comments and kind of get the idea that they think he should be more outspoken of what was going on in his own country before others? Some are even saying that they should use their influence in voicing out their opinions regarding issues in our country.

This wasn't the first time a social figure has been called out for not speaking. Some beauty queens are being pitted against each other just because some have opted to keep silent. There are other public figures too who have been wrongfully called out for speaking about what they believed in.

Personally, I believe that as a public figure, or as someone people look up to, there is a social responsibility to be aware of what is happening. But I think it should not just be about your own country but also what is happening in the world. Public figures, have a wide range of audience and as such, voicing out on important matters would be favorable to whatever cause they are fighting for. But I also believe that every person has the right to choose on what he should fight for. And also, I believe that every person has to respect each others opinion or feelings.

Though, there is nothing wrong with choosing to be outspoken. I admire and applaud a lot of social media personalities and public figures who have used their influence, their audience, to share what they feel about certain issues in our country. Using your talents or gifts to spread goodness is, I  believe, an act of nobility. Choosing to speak up, even if it means losing some people, is an act of bravery. 

However, I don't think it is also right to insult or hate someone just because of what he supports or what issues he decides to speak about. I believe it is not right to force someone to be vocal about an issue that you yourself are passionate about. And more importantly, it is not right be vocal about an issue just to please others. I believe, people should speak out about issues they are wholeheartedly and honestly passionate about, not because people want them to speak about it. 

What I am getting at here is this: there is enough disaster, crime, terrorism going on in the world. There is enough hate spreading through out the world. Why add more? A lot of people are suffering. And instead of spreading love and respect, we choose to spread hate. 

Social media is a powerful tool. Let us not use it for all the wrong reasons.