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To the Editor,

I am a 50-year-old wife and mother. Like the rest of you I have hardly slept or eaten in the past few days…at least not comfortably. And the images of devastation are in my view 24/7 regardless of whether the TV set is on or off.

My heart aches with the desire to offer some measure of support and comfort to our countrymen and women who are still digging themselves out of the rubble and looking for their loved ones.

My nerves jump and my breath catches in my throat for us all as we look to the skies and wonder if yet more horror will be rained upon us.

My eyes well up with tears for our children and their children.

And my mind struggles to understand how, while we are reeling with the enormity of it all, there are those in Central Texas whose myriad reactions still allow time and energy for bullying and assaulting our very own people.

I’m referring to the Arab-Americans who, in addition to sharing our neighborhoods, schools and freedoms, also share our pain and heartache.

I know the frustration of wanting to do something…anything…to vent those emotions. We all do. But if we truly want to protect that which makes us who we are, then we have to nip this in the bud.

How? I’m not a cop, a soldier or a lawmaker. All I have is an opinion and a love for my country. Okay, I have to admit that I also have a forceful manner and a steely glare I told you, I’m a mom.

That’s it! I will use those.

Yep. If someone at my local supermarket, post office, or for that matter, on the street is being assaulted verbally or physically because of religion and/or apparent ethnicity, this is one middle-aged woman who will stop the car (or shopping cart) and butt in. And if the bullies turn their rage on me, so be it. I am an American and therefore I will stand up for what is right no matter what the cost.

God bless us all.

Rosie Glover
wildwoman@austin.rr.com

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