LETTER FROM OUR EDITOR: A Shield Against Hate Every day, it seems, I’m reminded of yet another group of people who I’m expected to hate. In America in 2023, the opportunities to demonize individuals who fall into one category or another are plentiful. And usually, when I’m told to hate the people who fall into these categories, I’m told to do it for love of my country. Undocumented immigrants. Homeless people. Teachers. Librarians. Transgender people. Scientists. And don’t forget drag queens! We had honest-to-God Nazis here in Columbus in May, goose-stepping on our streets in opposition to drag queens. I’m no fan of that kind of world view, but I admit, the core concept looks pretty appealing on paper. So none of the problems I encounter day to day, from the major to the mundane, are my fault? They’re only happening because of people I’ve never met – people who look or sound different from me? And all I have to do to solve these problems in life is to get rid of those people? I can see how that message might resonate. Maintaining that toxic world view means continuing to see faceless bogeymen everywhere – evil forces that lurk right around every corner, but can never be seen clearly. And when those bogeymen cease to be faceless, they cease to be bogeymen. Some of the featured women in this year’s edition of EnVision Proven Success have, at points in their lives, been part of groups that a lot of people hate by default. One spent years struggling with homelessness and drug addiction. One experienced an unthinkable tragedy while in a relationship with a drug dealer. One got pregnant as a teenager. Several have spent time on public assistance; still others have escaped relationships with physically and/or emotionally abusive men. But they aren’t featured in EnVision because of their personal tragedies. They’re featured because they overcame those personal tragedies to make meaningful contributions to the lives of people around them. Doctors, nurses, social workers, “Fierce Lionesses” who help other women fight back against cancer, human trafficking and a litany of other struggles. Not a single one of these women is faceless. As you read their stories, make mental notes of the most important details. Keep them in mind, and bring them out the next time someone tries to convince you to hate someone who falls into one of the categories our featured women once occupied. Powerful personal stories like these can uplift, but they can also be used as a shield against hate. Each of our featured women has accomplished a great deal, and by telling their stories, they can accomplish even more — with your help. “ As you read their stories, make mental notes of the most important details. Keep them in mind, and bring them out the next time someone tries to convince you to hate someone who falls into one of the categories our featured women once occupied. ” Garth Bishop is editor of the 2023 edition of EnVision Proven Success. A longtime Columbus-area journalist, he is secretary and past president of the Central Ohio Pro chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. He also works as a freelance writer, editor and writing coach, and as a content writer for Dublin-based digital marketing agency ForeFront Web. Garth Bishop FREELANCE WRITER, EDITOR & WRITING COACH GARTH.BISHOP@HOTMAIL.COM 4 | ENVISION PROVEN SUCCESS MAGAZINE
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