My friends and I frequently joke about the fact that I don’t have much interest in having children. For years, I swore that I was never reproducing, but as I got older, I started to change my mind on the subject. Maybe having kids would be in my future.

Well, recent events have me questioning that again. There’s no way that I would want to bring another life into in a country where 50 innocent lives can be ended in the blink of an eye, with a legally obtained weapon which serves only one purpose—killing. I don’t want to have a child grow up in a country where a girl, only 22, is slain just minutes after doing what she loves most for no apparent reason. I don’t want my kid to face the aftermath of a potential president who has risen to prominence on a campaign deeply rooted in bigotry and hate (that’s Donald Trump, if you’re unsure).

Our country has a serious problem with hate. That’s what all of our biggest problems boil down to right now—hate. Hate between people of different races. Hate between people of different sexualities. Hate between people of different classes. Hate between people of different political parties.

I’m so sick of all of this hate.

We’re supposed to live in a country where people can be who they want, believe what they want, say what they want, and live the way they want. But, every day in the news, I’m given reasons why people can’t be who they are. Don’t be Muslim, political candidates will build their platform upon oppressing you. Don’t be black, you’ll be considered dangerous and may get shot by police. Don’t be transgender, people will tell you where to pee. Don’t be gay, you will get shot at while trying to have a fun Saturday night. Don’t be a Republican. Don’t be a Democrat. Don’t be a woman. Don’t be poor. Don’t be yourself because you’ll be oppressed, abused, paid less, put in prison, ignored, and killed—unless you’re white, male, straight, Christian, and rich, then you’re fine.

All hate is based in ignorance. If people just took some time to learn, to meet new people, hate wouldn’t be such an issue. It is possible for people to live together in peace. While this may seem like a foreign concept to us here in the good ol’ US of A, places like the UK and Australia haven’t seen a mass shooting in years. We saw number 133 in 2016 alone on Sunday morning at 2 a.m.

Don’t tell me that this is our politician’s fault. Don’t tell me that this is our police’s fault. Don’t tell me that this is the fault of immigrants or our minorities.

This is your fault. This is my fault. This is our fault. Now let’s do something about it. Let’s make America a place where I won’t feel guilty having children. Let’s make America a place that I, and everyone else, feels safe coexisting in.

How do we do this? I can’t say that I have all the answers. I’m not going to say that I know how to make people stop shooting each other, stop hurting each other, stop killing each other. But I can tell you that it’s easy to find hate within yourself and rid yourself of it. Educate yourself. Meet people that have different views, sexualities, values, races, religions, and cultures as you. Encourage your friends and family to do the same. Stand up against discrimination and hate when you see it.

Most importantly, stop saying there’s nothing we can do about it. Stop blaming entire groups of people for the actions of one. Stop perpetuating the culture of violence, anger, and insensitivity that has poisoned this country.

Maybe after that I’ll feel comfortable bringing a kid into this world. Until then, I’ll be doing my best to end the hate. I hope you do the same.