"One nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
Who are we now? We are a country divided. We are a country that is split between choosing 'Awful Trump' or 'Crooked Hillary.' We are a country that is split between two hashtags: #BlueLivesMatter and #BlackLivesMatter. We are no longer "one nation, under God, indivisible." In the wise words of Ronald Regan, "If we ever forget that we are One nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under." We have let tragedy not only divide us as a country, but divide us in terms of race. No, not the African-American race or the Caucasian race; I mean the human race. This isn't who we are. This isn't the freedom our Founding Fathers had in mind for us when they shaped this country.
Why can't we all come together in trying times and moments of tragedy? Why is it so impossible for us to unite, mourn, and grow together?
Violence is solving nothing.
Killing people because other people are killing people solves nothing.
Killing the people that risk their own lives to protect us solves nothing.
Grieve how you please. Mourn how you wish. Protest, peacefully. But, continuing to kill and continuing to riot will only worsen our country's problem. We are rapidly splintering apart as a nation, when we are the ones who should be the strongest, most united people. Why do we find the need to believe in these stereotypes that are ripping our country to pieces?
News flash, people! In case you did not know, not all cops are racist. Not all cops are trying to kill you. Every single cop gets up in the morning to put their life at risk for you and your family's safety. You know what else? Not all black people are thugs. Not all black people have a police record. Not all black people are rioters who are trying to kill police officers.
I'm scared. I'm scared to wake up in the morning, go into the city, and find myself in the middle of a riot or a shoot out. I'm scared this is the world I will, one day, bring my children into. I'm scared that more and more innocent people will lose their lives due to ignorance.
I'm sad. I'm sad that racism is still affecting our citizens so deeply, including in our schools, politics, work, public facilities. I'm sad that there is so much hatred within our world that everyone refuses to see the good and positive that exists.
Social media has turned this country into (for lack of better words) garbage. Social media glamorizes the negativity and the hurt our world is experiencing. How often do you see a news report about a little girl being a cancer survivor? Or about a cop actually saving a life (that happens!)? It's rare that you see a good, positive story. In my opinion, that is the source of what is truly tearing this country apart.
I have learned, in my short life of 18 years, that this world is an imperfect place. You will grow, you will learn, you will hurt and you will die. Those are the facts. The Justice System does not always provide "justice." Things do not always go the way you want them to.
Our country is experiencing a tragedy. I am not here to take sides or to sway your opinion on the matter and issues at hand. The side I'm on is yours. Because guess what? You matter. Black, white, Asian, Hispanic, gay, straight, male, woman, cop, teacher, father, daughter, mother, son -- every single one of us. We all matter. Black lives do in fact, matter. Don't use that phrase to patronize other races or occupations. Because, just as much as black lives matter, blue lives, white lives, Asian lives, every single life on this earth matters. Why, can that not be something we agree on? The idea of "an eye for eye" has got to stop. The hatred has got to stop. The killing and the violence have got to stop.
2 Chronicles 7:14: "If my people, who are called by my name, would humble themselves and pray & seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land."
