In light of recent tragic events, a lot of thoughts have been running through my head, and I thought I’d take this opportunity to voice some of them. I could make so many different points from so many different angles.
I mean I’m a woman, I’m a millennial, I’m a conservative, and, most importantly, I’m Catholic. From that one sentence, I’m sure you’ve already made assumptions about me and my beliefs (some of which are probably accurate) and the points I would try to make and the facts I would try to bring up. Well, I’m not going to do any of that.
Why? Because then I wouldn’t be relatable to the majority of you and that would defeat the purpose of this article.
So many people from all backgrounds, political parties, religions, etc. have put their two cents in on the Vegas shootings and past shootings in general. It seems to me that that’s all there is on social media recently and basically whenever there’s any tragedy: everyone’s own, hateful, close-minded, blaming opinions. And while I’m basically doing the same thing by putting my opinion out there through social media platforms, I’m aiming to put a different spin on it. So, bear with me.
Completely putting politics and religion aside, I’m going to make this statement: We have a people problem in this country. Obviously, there is a major problem with a person if he can make the decision to kill someone and an even bigger problem when he decides to kill many.
There’s no way of knowing exactly what snapped in his brain to convince himself to do something like this. But, what I do know, is that hatred cannot and will not end hatred.
The people problem goes even deeper than the shooter, it also applies to us. We ask ourselves, “How could someone do this?” “How could we let this happen?” whenever tragedy strikes and I think we fail to examine ourselves. We ask the question, “How could we let this happen?” and we have an answer, but we’re either too stubborn or too stupid to acknowledge the answer.
Look at what you’re posting on the internet and saying to others around you. Is it compassionate? Is it empathetic? Is it loving? Or is it blaming? Is it hateful? Is it discouraging? In times like this, we do not need any of the latter. Hatred will only fuel hatred and that’s how we got here.
I’m not trying to offer a solution and I’m not trying to give an explanation as to why things like this happen. But, I am suggesting that we all be a little kinder and a little more compassionate. It is not the time to be arguing over gun laws. It is not the time to be placing blame on political parties.
People died: mothers, fathers, daughters, sons, husbands, wives, and somebody’s child. I really don’t think it’s appropriate to be arguing and to be so controversial right now. Imagine a world where everyone tried to be kinder. Let’s try to solve this “people problem” by starting with ourselves.
