As I laid in bed on Thursday evening, July 14, 2016, I was mortified as I watched a semi truck plow into the Bastille Day festivities, killing over 80 people and harming so many more. My heart was in my throat as I helplessly watched people trying to run out of harm's way, to no success. My hair stood on end as goosebumps covered my arms when I heard that the truck barreled through the crowd in Nice, France, for over a mile before authorities could gun down the terrorist driving the truck filled with explosives and grenades. I could not even imagine the sheer terror and fear that must have filled the hearts of people and their loved ones as terrorism shook the streets.
As I watched, I could not help but feel a little thankful that all of my loved ones were in other parts of the world safe from the current attack. I cannot imagine the desperation and heartache for the families of victims. Half a world a way, I felt a sense of security watching and knowing that none of the people I love were close to the attacks. But then the realization hit me: what is stopping the next attack from striking a low security football game where my family and friends were celebrating? Absolutely nothing.
As a fun and festive evening turned into a complete nightmare, I watched with a heavy heart. I cannot fathom the amount of hatred and cruelty it would take for a person or group to inflict so much harm to so many innocent people. I wonder, why? How could someone commit such heinous crimes? How can this be justified?
My heart breaks for the world we live in today. It seems that every day when I turn on the news there is another atrocious crime. On Thursday, it was terrorism in Nice. On Wednesday, it was racism. On Tuesday, it was a kidnapping. On Monday it was a religious hate crime. Every day there is so much hatred and violence that I cannot even being to wrap my mind around it. The saddest part of it all is that this trend is nothing new. It seems like since the beginning of time we have been ruthless and destructive beings set with an intention to do harm.
While this seems extreme and pessimistic, I cannot help but observe this heart-breaking pattern of darkness throughout history. From the earliest literature, such as cave drawings, we see stories of horrific violent deaths. The earliest philosophers tackled questions like, "Are we as humans born innately good or bad?" and, "Why does evil exist in the world?" Even the most read book in our current time, the Bible, questions how evil entered the world and how God gave us free will. We have the ability to choose kindness over hatred.
Despite years of questioning and trying to stomp out the evil in the world, we have been unable to accomplish this. It feels like the current time is more horrific and violent than ever. In these horrific and completely heart-wrenching times, we need to recall from history that the best way to combat the evil is with selfless and unwavering love. This is extremely difficult in times where our hearts are breaking and we want justice for these heinous crimes. We must remember that violence breeds violence. The only way to break the cycle is with love and compassion. At the end of the day, I yearn to live in a world with more positivity, happiness, and kindness than negativity, violence, and terror. Love is greater than hate. Love never fails.
