Learnings from the #shithole

Bravo, Anderson Cooper 360. Thank you for your moving tribute.

As a first generation immigrant in this country, I'm on the "black list". No matter how much I studied, how hard I worked, how much I paid in taxes, according to Trump I'm not wanted here.

Yet I still have it easy. I'm a #metoo woman (who continues to be outraged that though several people in the entertainment industry had to pay the consequences for their inexcusable behavior, somehow this did not extend to the President?!) but I happen to be white.

The privileges of being part of the privileged race and on top of it not being instantly "recognized" or "judged" as an immigrant -- not that there is a way to recognize and a justification for ever judging -- do not escape me. Especially with a racist at the helm of the United States.

I'm not sure if my birth country of Hungary would be considered a #shithole country or not. But it does not matter.

I had the pleasure of deeply connecting with tribes in Tanzania, Bali and the jungles of Brazil. I just posted from Thailand a couple of days ago about the kinship I feel to people of poverty-stricken countries.

Aside from having grown up poor, there is a deeper sense of affection. It is due to the fact that instead of financial health, these countries and their hard working, humble citizens have a deep sense of gratitude, kindness and spiritual well-being. Something our pathetic excuse of a human being President does not even have a concept of.

Aside from still being baffled by Trump getting elected, I am simply ashamed. Ashamed by our leadership (or lack of...) as a United States citizen, and more importantly ashamed that this unconscious, despicable individual has any kind of a platform at all, using it to continuously insult others and spread hate in the world.

If there is any positive at all with Trump being how he is and where he is, it is putting the spotlight on the most heinous character traits one can possibly have. As Trump has proven throughout the past year and continues to do so, he's got a full collection of qualities that we human beings need to look at, learn from and take a firm stance against -- just like Anderson Cooper did.

May Trump and his degrading, disgraceful ways call us all to speak up and and stand for each other beyond borders and boundaries.

Xoxo,

Z.