I'm not going to tell you "all lives matter, black lives matter, blue lives matter." You already know that. You know that police are supposed to protect and serve and sometimes this doesn't happen. But sometimes it does. You also know that there is a system that is failing people in this country.
You also know that saying this makes zero difference. You know that posting something on social media, voicing your opinion or trying to discredit someone else, makes zero difference. Taking to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or Tumblr to scream your thoughts into the void that is the Internet cannot change what is happening to our country.
People lost their lives last week. People who were someone else's whole world. Someone's parent, brother, or son is no longer alive and with them. Your social media post doesn't bring them back or help their families. It doesn't make it easier on the families to see a whole country arguing during their time of grief.
You also know arguing among ourselves is quite easy, but it can also further cripple our already broken country.
I write this with the hope that something will change. That someone out there reads this and actually makes a difference. Maybe this means speaking to someone you have never met and exchanging thoughts; showing someone respect and gratitude; giving someone a few minutes of your time to do something helpful. I know it is easy to voice your opinion, but when is the last time you actually took action to it? Even our top two political candidates have done nothing but scream their opinions through social media. And after one current event is no longer a hot topic, they move on to something else more tweet worthy.
I am begging you to be bigger than this. The people pictured below deserve more than a few words on a Facebook post. Let's push our lawmakers to do something about this. Or ask the political candidates how they would make a difference instead of letting them argue back and forth on Twitter. You could organize a peaceful demonstration. Create a political reform group at your school or join an existing one. If you want to go make a difference, go make a difference. Bring this country together.
Philando Castile, age 32
Alton Sterling, age 37
From left to right: Brent Thompson, Patrick Zamarripa, Michael Krol, Michael Smith and Lorne Ahrens
