Every day, we hear of new tragedies occurring somewhere around the world, whether it be mass shootings, acts of terror or crimes within our own neighborhoods. As a 20-year-old college student, I find myself sitting here reacting to every one in the same way, with the same simple question—why?
At 20, my biggest concerns should be my happiness, figuring myself out and finding my place in the world. I want to focus on my education and career, my family and friends—things that matter to me. And while I am doing all that I can to play my part and positively contribute to the world that we all live in, it seems as though day by day, it only continues to fall apart even more.
I hear the stories, and I see with my own eyes, what we as a human species are capable of doing to one another. It’s discouraging to think about the fact that out of over seven billion people to walk this planet right now, I am simply only one, because at this point it is hard to imagine what one person can genuinely do to fix all that is wrong in the world, when the mindsets of so many seem to be so far from where mine stands.
I do not know everything about life. Honestly, I don't know most things about life. I have a lot of growing and experiencing still left to do. What I do know for certain, however, is simple—we are all people. And with every difference that stands between us, this is one characteristic that we all undoubtedly share. Why is it, then, do we place such a heavy emphasis on putting up walls and creating boundaries that do nothing but separate us from one another? Why do we put so much effort into capitalizing on our differences with such negativity, rather than our similarities and the things that bring us together as human beings?
It’s sad. It’s sad to see that things like money and power and control are what consume so much of our attention. It’s sad to witness people tear others down every single day rather than focus on bettering themselves and the world that we all share. It’s sad, not only to see what society is, but what it continues to become.
In a perfect world, there would be no hatred. No judgment, or discrimination. No violence, or fear. People would be kind and ambitious and passionate, and everybody would be able to go about their everyday lives the way they please. Unfortunately, our world is not perfect. And as I grow older, I realize more and more that the likelihood of this ever becoming a reality is slim to none. I have grown up, however, on the idea that there is more good in the world than there is bad, and even with all that has been happening lately, I still believe this to be true. I believe that the tragedies that we continue to hear about every day do not necessarily make the world that we live in a bad place, but rather prove to us that there are individuals who will work fiercely in making loud and violent statements for all to hear. It is our responsibility to make sure that the statements of the good are louder.
After all, what's the point in having humans with no humanity?
