I’m different, but why does that matter?

Yes, I’m white and I wear clothes that are too big for me.
What’s it to you?
Would you say that if you knew my story?
What if I told you that they were hand-me-downs?
Or that I couldn’t afford anything better?
Yes, I live in the bad part of that town,
Does this mean I am a bad person?
Who are you to judge?

I’m different, but why does that matter?
Yes, I am Arabic,
But who told you I was a terrorist?
Yes my mom wears a cloth around her face,
But what if I told you it’s not because of our race.
What if I told you the true story?
The story about her getting into a car wreck, taking her bottom jaw.
Who are you to judge?

I’m different, but why does that matter?
Yes, I am of Hispanic descent.
But I am from this country too.
Yes, I cut my neighbors grass and I fix things on his roof.
But what if you knew why?
What if I told you that my neighbor is my uncle?
And that he has cerebral palsy and can’t do it on his own.
And despite the comedic bricks thrown at him for race and disability;
He chooses to make a shield out of those bricks.
Who are you to judge?

I’m different, but why does that matter?
Yes, my brother is black and currently in prison,
He was prosecuted for murder and selling cocaine.
So why’s this weight shoved in a 100 lb. sack and repeatedly thrown at me.
But what if you knew the struggle?
What if you over heard my pain?
He didn’t murder, he protected.
He only sold for money, because the role of a father was left for him,
When a father was too scared to take it.
Mom had cancer, how was he supposed to get enough money to help.
Who are you to judge?

I’m different, but why does that matter?
Yes, I repeat what I say.
And I’m sorry, “I didn’t mean to make everyone mad.”
I know that I randomly make noises like a broken toy, you don’t have to point it out.
What if you knew my gift?
This obstacle that God set for me to overcome.
What if you knew that this obstacle is Tourette’s?
Would you continue to pick me last for every game at recess?
How can you live with yourself knowing that you and everyone else continue to role-the-dice?
Taking your chance to get anyone else as a partner for the game besides me.
What if you knew my true talents?
What if you looked past the twitch?
You could see that I am one of the fastest runners, and that my arm has the farthest pitch.
Yet even when you have to sit by me in class, you think that I am a contagious disease.
Who are you to judge?

I’m different, but why does that matter?
Yes, I look like every other Asian in the country,
But I’m not Chinese, Japanese, or Vietnamese, I’m Korean.
Yes I’m good at math and my GPA is a 4.21,
But what if you knew my urge.
What if you had the constant reminder that I do?
What if I told you that I do it for my sister that was raped and murdered?
What if you realized that I don’t need your abusive words and actions?
Because my sister went through enough abuse for God knows how many hours before she died.
Are you going to continue to antagonize me for little things?
Because I try to make up for things that she missed out on.
Who are you to judge?

I’m different, but why does that matter?
Yes, I have a birthmark on my face,
But it’s not a s*** stain.
It doesn’t give you the right to shoot me with an arsenal of jokes and disses.
But what if I told you that I have bigger problems than you?
What if you heard the heart throbbing song that my life plays?
Would you listen to it again?
What if I told you that I was lost?
What if these lyrics didn’t quite rhyme as well as others?
Who are you to judge?

We are different, but why does that matter?
Yes, we continue to move when you try to stop us.
Is that wrong?
We know that it won’t stop,
But what if we showed you a ride that put you in our place?
Would you try it or leave the park?
Could you just give us a chance?
Different or not would you be our friends,
Or throw us away because of our twists and bends?
Yes, we are different, but why does that matter?
Who are you to judge?