An Open Letter to Bo French: Leading with Love and the Power of Inclusion

Choosing Love Over Fear

This is going to be a difficult one.

Usually, I don’t like to talk about race, religion, or politics because I feel like those things can divide us unnecessarily. And when you compound that with online discourses, it can become extremely polarizing.

But when I saw the above picture pop up on Twitter repeatedly this week, I was curious about what was happening and what the whole thing was about.

Apparently, this gentleman, Bo French, is running for the office of the Texas Railroad Commission. He wrote a tweet that went viral:

“I heard UT graduation this year looked like this. I didn’t believe it. The problem is now obviously far worse than anyone imagined.”

Below is my take on it.

When Others Hurt Us

See, I don’t know what Bo exactly means, because I can’t get into his head. And there’s been a lot of discussion about legal and illegal immigration across USA these days. What is good, how much is good, and all of those complicated questions have been floating around.

Honestly, I don’t want to get into all those details right now.

When I see kids rushing college football fields when their team wins, like any parent, I think about their safety. When my older one sends me pictures of Georgia tech after their football games, I wonder what all these silly teenagers are upto. It’s fun to see those pictures but I’m praying that no one gets hurt.

And I’m definitely not wondering about some random guy posting a picture like this using extremely hateful content. I’ve posted some of those pics here, that my son had shared with me in the past. You can see them HERE.

Anyway, I just have a quick point to make to this gentleman, and also to all the children who are going to look at this picture and see themselves in it.

Especially my own two kids, who look exactly like some of the kids who are here. And to show them that even if Silence is golden, in some cases it is not.

Open Letter To Bo French

Bo, when I look at these kids in the picture and out of the frame, I see students who worked hard to be there, who are proud to be there, and who deserve to feel like they belong.

When I look at this picture, I see the American dream that America stands for proudly. That everyone who has worked hard, wants to contribute and is ready to assimilate has a shot at the glorious American dream.

Bo, when I look at this picture, I see kids who love being American. Kids who are just being themselves, loud and proud.

Bo, I’ve been to some college games that my son has taken me to. The noise, the decibel level there, is just insane. I’ve never ever experienced anything like that before. I literally feel an amazing connection with each and everyone in and around that stadium irrespective of their background. We’re speaking the same language of football!

If the other team is hosting and the guest team is winning, it’s a riot. They won’t let them have a single goal in peace. It’s just so funny. My son made a poster during a Falcons game and so many people cheered for us!

Bo, I don’t know who you are or what you stand for, and I honestly don’t care about your political or life ideologies. Even more so, ironically, after what you have written.

But I have to tell you one thing.

If you are applying for any leadership position and you want to lead, you definitely cannot lead by dividing people. You have to bring everyone together.

That’s where the magic is.

Leadership is an action. It is not a position.

Think about what you have written. I hope you will find peace, because if you’re seeing hate in this picture, it’s time to open your heart.

The world is a beautiful place.

To The Kids Who Have Or Will See His Tweet

If you’re seeing this unfold, I beg you to not make yourself small.

Don’t stop being an immigrant’s child. Don’t stop being American. Don’t stop being proud of who you are.

And just keep loving football.

Show everyone that the world is still great. Again, the online world can feel a little hostile. But real life is not always like that. There are so many people around us who are supporting us and helping us live in a beautiful community like America.

Read words from others who have been writing to comfort anyone who has been disturbed by these kinds of tweets.

Some people have shown up with the facts. Understand them.

You’ve made it into this college because every single one of you deserves to be there.

And just look hard at the picture and at the joy you radiate. And don’t forget what one young lady said in reply to Bo,

“Of all the things we could fear in this world, yet they will always pick love.”

Because that is the bravest and the kindest thing to do.

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Observations, Opinions, and Cultural Critique

Cultural Essays from a Life Lived Between Worlds