Mass shootings in America have become an epidemic. In the eight years President Obama has been in office, there have been 34, resulting in the death of 297 and physically affecting 579 in total.This past Sunday the world woke up to learn about the 34th of these tragedies. This time it happened in Orlando at a gay bar. Last I checked, Orlando is home to “The Happiest Place On Earth,” and I’ll personally testify that people in the LGBT community are some of the kindest I have ever met.
The one question in my mind is, “Why?”
Why can’t we as a human race have tolerance? Why do we continue to hurt one another?
These questions have clouded my mind all day, and it has become clear that I am not alone in my thoughts. One post that stood out to me today is by the sister of a recent shooting victim.
Sarah Chilutti, a beachbody coach, and criminal justice graduate from Holy Family University had this to say about what is happening in our country:
“This world makes me sad. People's small minded viewpoint's make me sad.
-A Muslim shot and killed 50 people this morning in Florida.
-An African American killed my brother.
-An Asian killed 32 students at Virginia Tech.
-A White man walked into a movie theater, shot, and killed 12 people.
It's not one race, or ethnicity that's evil.
It's not one race, or ethnicity that's killing people.
It's not one race, or ethnicity you should discriminate against, warn your child about, or hate.
There's evil, violent, senseless people out there. People that do things we cannot even begin to understand.
But there's good people out there. People who are kind. People who choose love instead of hate.
I don't think I can change the world, and I don't think I'll ever create an inspiring movement to end the hate that's out there. But I will do my best to protect my community as a police officer from the evil; I will teach my future family that evil doesn't have a certain race, style, belief, etc; I will teach my future children kindness & that love always wins.
You may not be able to change the world. But you can change the people around you. Spread love. Be kind. Teach your loved ones or your children the same.”
While it has been confirmed by President Obama that this was an act of terror, it is important to recognize just what Sarah said. People kill people, and if we fear just one group over another, than we are attributing to the intolerance that is going on, which I am afraid will cause even more of these scenarios.
It comes down to hate and intolerance.
If you look at history and the prejudices that the world has suffered over time, we are back tracking. Yes, we have come a long way from slavery, but racism isn’t completely dead, and this shooting shows the intolerance that is alive against the LGBT community.
When I say we are backtracking, what happened to this?
That was a time when we stood hand in hand to help one another and love on one another. I want that world back. I’m tired. Tired of not feeling safe, tired of feeling like I have to look over my shoulder regardless of who I might see behind me.
I don’t know about you, but I think we need to cut all hate right this instant, and cut off those that refuse to give up their hate.
We have come to a point in our existence where we desperately need to surrender our hate, and until that happens, people will continue to hurt one another.
Let Love Win.
