I was sitting with my friends at a coffee house near the LaVerne campus, minding our own business and studying for the upcoming senior exam. In the distance, we see the #blacklivesmattermarch that was occurring at the University that day.
It was honestly beautiful to see.
It was proving to the community that love exists.
It was proving to the community that respect exists.
It was proving to the community that words have an impact, just as much as our actions do.
As we are watching the participants march, an older woman grunts and says, "next they're going to burn down the community."
Are you serious???
These students were marching peacefully, not bashing any religion or race, nor were they disturbing anyone from what they were doing. They were simply expressing what they believed in and they were supporting what was right.
For this woman to come out of nowhere and assume that these students were acting out of hate and anger left me thinking that this is the type of negative thinking that has caused the separation between people in the first place.
It is not about hate or love, nor is it about what is right or what is wrong.
This is about people's ways of thinking, and that woman proved to me that her way of thinking derives from a fear that resides in our minds. We are greatly effected by the world around us, letting it control our way of thinking and our actions.
We fall so deep into the things we are told about a certain race, religion, current issues, etc., that we hide behind the lies we are told and become closed minded to the obvious truth. Even during a peaceful march, this woman still felt obligated to assume the worst of the situation.
We stood there watching these students and members of the community come together and unite as one. There were no expectations for each others actions, just respect.
It was beautiful watching that and being a part of the experience. Those students and members of the community showed acts of courage, strength, love, respect and unity.
Do not allow the negativity of the world around you consume your personal thoughts and opinions. Accept others for their differences, whether you agree with them or not. Allow yourselves to grow alongside others rather than be pinned against each other.
Unite yourself with those around you.
Only then will you see the world in her truest form.
