Afshine Emrani

I want to tell you a story. People will tell you to think outside the box, but I want to tell you to think inside the box. A couple of weeks ago, a few Nazi bastards marched in Charlottesville. They clashed with a few Antifa thugs, and we saw an ugly side of America. This week, a natural disaster hit Houston. The staff in my tiny office put out a box to collect donations to help the victims of hurricane Harvey. Then came the images of people by the thousands volunteering to help, of people forming human chains to rescue those stuck in their homes, of goodwill stores overflowing with gifts, of White people helping Black people and vice versa, of temples, churches and mosques opening their doors to everyone, of firefighters carrying mother and child, and tough men holding the hands of the elderly, of a furniture store that allowed people to sleep over and of private citizens pledging money by the millions. In my office, Persians, Armenians, African-Americans, Hispanics. Russians, Israelis, Europeans, Jews, Catholics, Muslims, put money in that box, to help people they’ve never met, to pray for those of all colors and creeds. I want to tell you that although hate makes the news, love is the building block of America. Nazis and Antifa gangsters are few, and not our America. Our America comes together in times of need. Americans are good and decent people. Be proud. Be hopeful. Look inside that box. Despite what the news wants us to believe, we are more united than ever. America is the land of angels. Good morning.

Orli Bloom is feeling proud.