What was supposed to be a memorable night for the people at Pulse, a local nightclub and gay bar in Orlando, Florida, turned into horror. A man named Omar Mateen took out a large gun and began to shoot the people in the nightclub. Everyone was in fear and panic. Hours after the shooting subsided, 49 lives were taken away and 53 were critically injured. All the happiness turned to depression. This shooting is now considered to be the largest mass shooting in U.S. history and the deadliest terrorist attack on U.S. soil since 9/11. All this occurred because the shooter hated the LGBTQ community. So my question to the shooter would have been this: Why...WHY WOULD YOU DO SUCH A THING!? If you dislike the LGBTQ community, just walk away. DO NOT use guns as a way to solve your mentally deranged problems. In this battle of love vs. hate, love will always come out as the winner.
I will admit this right now: I am not gay. However, I have friends who are gay, bisexual, lesbian, you name it. I have stood by my friends from the moment I've met them. I will continue to stay at my friends' sides no matter what happens. And I know my friends will stick by my side no matter what. No one that I know, including myself, will not allow one negative, cruel person to ruin our lives. A person once said, "Love conquers all!" And love will conquer all.
Anger brings people down, whether it's verbal or physical. Words hurt, slaps hurt, even segregation and isolation hurt. Guns...they do hurt, not only to the victims, but to the love ones of the victims as well. It's not just one person who suffers. Everyone suffers as well. I am so sick and tired of hearing that several are dead because of a terrorist or a mentally-deranged gun-wielding person. If only we can find a way to bind together and send love all over the country so that this terrible feeling we call hate can be eliminated forever. Unfortunately, that cannot happen anytime soon, unless we can do something about it soon.
I can consider those who was harmed a hero and a symbol to the entire LGBTQ community. Each and every person who perished from the attacks proved that their fight for equality lives on and continues to shine over injustice and terror. Equality will always conquer hate and terror, no matter how hard people try.
I may live thousands of miles north of Orlando and I may have visited Orlando a few times in my life, but that does not stop me from supporting the Orlando community.
Last time I checked, there were thousands, if not millions, of people banded together to send love and support to all the victims and their loved ones. People around the world have sent money, flowers, notes, etc. Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling sent flowers to one of the victims. President Obama visited Orlando and greeted all the families of the victims. Before Games 5 and 6 of the NBA Finals, there were moments of silence. Are those signs of hate? I don't think so.
To the victims of Orlando, on behalf of my friends and family, I will always stand by you and love you no matter what. Love is love! You are not alone in this. The entire country is by your side. Even if you don't identify yourself as a member of the LGBTQ community, send your support. The more support, the less chance of hate to occur, especially now.
#PrayForOrlando
