It irks me that terror attacks are finding a regular place on my television, on my news feeds, and most importantly, in the lives of everyday people. What irks me even more is the sheer amount of error acts that go unnoticed in our day-to-day lives.
The attacks in Paris were a frightening reminder that the the peace of our everyday lives can be interrupted in a heartbeat, a beat that can come to an end with one quick act of hatred. For many, though, this was just one attack that happened to get more media coverage than those that take place every day in the Middle East -- and worldwide.
It's sickening that acts of terror have been woven into the fabric that makes up humankind. In the back of our minds–and for some, in the front–is the thought that with every action we take, there is the chance that the violent beliefs of another can bring our time to an end.
Before you are quick to point the blame at a certain group or country, realize that not one particular group is responsible for the idea of terrorism. Throughout history, multiple religions, political agendas, and beliefs have been found at the forefront of such attacks. Groups like ISIS or Al Qaeda are today's faces of fear that have taken other forms in previous eras.
Why does this continue to happen time and time again? No matter the scale of the attack, the one certainty we can often take away is that it will most likely not be the last act of terror we see in our lifetimes. Why does a portion of humanity believe that the best way to send their message is to maim and murder the innocent? It seems to be a vital flaw in that humanity will never be able to escape using violence as a tool to further a cause.
It is human nature to disagree with others. I have fundamentally different beliefs from many people I know, but I respect them and move on with my life. There are other ways to voice your displeasure than to harm another. Martin Luther King Jr. and Mahatma Gandhi hold special places in history for the progress they made because of how they used peace as a weapon instead of violence.
To those who use terror as the fuel behind their beliefs, I beg of you to please bring these acts to an end. I think I speak for the majority of human beings when I say that we are sick and tired of seeing innocent people being murdered time after time after time. Good will always outweigh the evil in this world. We just want peace. We don't want to attack your beliefs or push our own upon you; we just want to live our lives without having to fear for them.
Please, bring these attacks to an end and adopt peace within your lives. Hatred will not solve anything; it will only serve to make your lives more miserable. So please join me, join the people victimized across the globe, and join those who wish to bring senseless violence to an end in our attempts to make this earth a planet of peace.
