2016-11-28 I have been…

I have been taken from my mother by strange men to kiss me.
I have been called names.
I have been frowned upon.
I have been disbelieved.
I have been disenfranchised.
I have been laid low.
I have been made fun of.
I have been disrespected.
I have been hated because of my religion.
I have been ignored because of my gender.
I have been slapped on the butt by my boss.
I have been underpaid.
I have been without scholarship.
I have been without health insurance.
I have been convinced I was dying.
I have been undiagnosed (sic).
I have people tell me I am going to hell for my beliefs.
I have been given bad grades for saying what I truly think.
I have had people take my hand away from the phone while talking to my boss.
I have had people call me fat.
I have had friends who lied to me.
I have had husbands who cheated on me.
I have had dear ones who died.
I have seen my political leaders shot in the head.
I have been poor.
I have been in the minority.
I have been living in the United States of America all my life.
I have been residing in Arkansas, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Texas and New Mexico.
I have been afraid of living in a ‘third’ world country.
I have been afraid that Republicans would deny me my rights.
I have been sixty-two years old.
I have been retired.
Who am I?