49 are dead.
I am angry.
I am angry for more reasons than I can say, and I am even more sorrowful and heartbroken than that. I feel sorrow for the 49 beautiful souls who are dead, and heartbreak for their families, friends, and loved ones. Any time that there is a tragedy like this, my heart goes out to everyone who is affected by the losses because I know just how easily it could be me.
I've seen so many stories and opinions and so much hatred sprouting from the Orlando shooting that took place on June 12. I've seen so many petty arguments about being gay and immigrants in the U.S. and guns in society.
With all of these conversations we somehow keep forgetting that a tragedy has occurred and we need to do something to stop this from happening again. There are 49 people dead. Forty-nine human beings with lives and loved ones and futures. They are dead because of a group shaped by hatred and fear, and that is so incredibly devastating to me.
It does not matter that these people were at a gay nightclub. It does not matter if they were married to their partner with seven kids or single and working on their career. It does not matter if they were 18 or 50. It does not matter if they were a part of the LGBT+ community or an ally. These people did not deserve to die.
It scares me so much that there is nowhere safe anymore from this hatred that seems to keep chasing us all down, no matter where we hide. Good people are being killed in nightclubs, churches, movie theaters, marathons, schools ... there is nowhere that is really safe, and that is terrifying. Because of this, I know that I honestly have to live my life one day at a time, because I never know when today is going to be someone's last. None of the people at Pulse knew they were going to be cornered and killed that night.
Life is so short and precious and fragile. There are no guarantees and no instruction manuals to surviving and thriving. There are always going to be bad people in the world.
That is why we need to love, rather than hate.
No, love will not protect us from harm or bring back those that we have lost. Love cannot stop a bullet or a hateful individual from committing evil deeds.
However, love will make us happier. Love will give us hope. Love will keep us going when we are absolutely positive that the world cannot go on the way that it is. Love will be there for us when we have strayed and filled our hearts with hate.
The title of this article reads, "49 Are Dead. I Am Angry." This seems contradicting with the last statement, so let me explain. 49 people are dead, and I am angry that they are dead. I am angry that all of their life and potential and beauty and capability is gone forever. Even so, I am loving my friends and family more for it all. I am living my life full of love, because I never know who's name is going to be on the next list of victims.
I don't know how we are supposed to fight this evil. I don't have any answer for you except that we need to live our lives with love in our hearts. We have to stand together in the face of these evil deeds that keep coming at us. If we do not care for each other, then who else will? Let us love one another for our differences rather than hate. If we can do that, we will be one step ahead of those who intend to do us harm.
