As a young adult in America, I am surrounded by diversity of person and thought. I was raised and have it engrained in my mind that this diversity is beautiful and valued, and is what makes America great. I have always been told to never judge a person based on something they can’t control – like their race, ethnicity, class, gender, etc. To hear of the hate and violence in Charlottesville by white supremacist groups goes against my very being and everything I have ever learned. It confuses and scares me to live in a world where people 1) feel this way about their fellow Americans, and 2) feel as though they can say and act on these feelings without and worry of punishment or repercussions for their actions. I am disgusted by the lack of response, and, really, backbone displayed by the “leadership” (I use this term lightly) in Washington. If children are taught to promote peace and love, and to care for one another, why can’t our government lead by example and try to instill this ideal into our severely broken country?