Dear Everyone,

Dear Everyone,

Why do we label each other?  

Are you

black or white?

Do you lean

left or right?

Which is your opinion?

Whose side do you take?

Why do we judge at first glance?

Young latino: gangster

Dressed in a hijab: terrorist

White skin: racist

Thick accent: brainless

Why must we pick a side, then feel inclined to cross the line?

Drama and divisions rage,

Over-exaggerations blaze.

Buzz buzz buzz

She hates gays!

Buzz buzz buzz

He’s not straight!

...Middle ground is viewed as weak,

Stand up!

Speak!

But I'm not sorry

that I don't claim one side.

I'm not sorry

that I can't make up my mind-

I’m not sorry

that I won’t let labels bind me.

Dear Everyone,

Opinions are fine,

while no one is entitled,

we do have rights.

Dear Everyone,

Let’s shed

the shallow

the masking

the slapped-on labels,

the labels that we create

that we distribute

that we crave-

because off-handed labeling

based on mere feeling

is not ok.