In India and across the world, Holi has come to be regarded as a celebration of the bright and multifarious colors that unite us and form our humanity. A celebration of spring, the ancient holiday commemorates aspects of Hindu mythology with the throwing of colored powder.
In our romantic vision of spring in a college town, red petals float in the air as yellow pollen coats our bicycles and purple hibiscuses greet us on our way to class. We lie on the vibrant, green quad with friends, finally living the quintessential college moments conveyed in brochures.
As we get wrapped up in these idyllic moments, we must not fail to notice the dark clouds approaching our community, whose arrival would undermine the celebrations of color and diversity that are so integral to springtime.
One of these dark clouds is N.C. Amendment One. This amendment, which will be on the ballot in May, would mandate that “marriage between one man and one woman is the only domestic legal union that shall be valid or recognized in this state.”
Because of its wording, this amendment’s impact could go much further than its apparent intent. Amendment One could invalidate domestic violence protections, weaken child custody rights and impact access to health insurance for domestic partners.
Regardless of your sexual orientation or your views on same-sex marriage, Amendment One is legislation that will darken your spring if passed.
Another dark cloud is immigration law. Last week, UNC’s Students United for Immigrant Equality and Duke Students for Humane Borders co-hosted Immigration Awareness Week.
The week’s keynote speaker was Jose Antonio Vargas, a Filipino-American journalist who last year revealed his status as an undocumented immigrant. His coming out as an undocumented American inspired a national dialogue about immigration issues, forcing many to come to terms with the uncomfortable fact that America is changing.
The humanity that Holi celebrates surpasses any distinction of cast, creed, color, gender, status or sexuality. The colors we throw in Holi are symbols for love and justice, and we must throw them with pride and optimism.
