I've never been able to watch violence.
From a young age, the mutilation of another human being, or any being for that matter, always sent my stomach a churning and knots into my chest.
This has kept me from watching horror movies, deep sea movies and TV shows like Game of Thrones - much to my chagrin.
But now the violence I see and read about isn't taking place inside a story or a fantasy world.
It's in Orlando, where 50+ LGBTQ people have been killed.
In Louisiana and Minnesota, where innocent black men were killed by police.
In Dallas, where innocent police officers were taken out by a sniper.
And I've kept silent as I've read about the horrors happening in my country because before I spoke, I wanted to make sure I understood.
And I know my influence is limited, and many of these things don't affect me directly. But that doesn't mean I don't care, or that I'm unwilling to speak out in support of what is right.
To understand why these things happen is to understand why violence happens.
Violence is a result of a desire for power and the feeling of fear. Either power over your fellow man, or fear of your own personal power being taken from you.
It is indisputably one of the most poignant, primary motivators for so many unspeakable atrocities that we've seen throughout history.
And we cannot deny its presence in our world today - as people react to wars by shutting their doors, or change in the name of equality with a rally cry to "make America great again".
Many people are afraid of being left behind, or forgotten. Of being pushed out of their homes and lives as the world continues to change. What if the benefits of sharing aren't worth the cost of independence? What if we let these people in and they overtake us? What if he kills me before I can kill him?
These are primary fears that people really have. I'm just putting words to them, because we need to understand why these things are happening. I needed to understand why these awful things were happening. And I don't know all the answers, but I do know what is not the answer. I do know part of the answer.
We are at a tipping point in the history of humankind. Never before have we been so free globally to be connected and privy to what's going on around us.
This freedom of information access can be daunting and scary. Where do we even begin to address these systems of inequality put in place by history?
We can start by looking at how most school children in America start their day:
"I pledge allegiance to the flag, of the United States of America. One nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
Most of us have said this every day in grade school.
But to act on what it means, I think is part of the answer.
We are pledging to be united as one nation, and to be free in that nation. To have liberty, or freedom, "within society from oppressive restrictions imposed by authority on one's way of life, behavior, or political views."
To have justice, and treat everyone equally and honestly.
Freedom cannot exist in a place where minorities are targeted for existing.
Freedom cannot exist while violence continues.
Freedom cannot exist where hate exists.
Freedom is acceptance, and love of others.
Freedom is fighting to reverse or amend the systems of inequality that have been in place for centuries.
In America, while gun violence continues, we are not truly free.
