Yet another senseless shooting. A road that has been driven down far too many times before. This time it was the worst mass shooting that this nation has ever witnessed. 49 beautiful souls have been taken from this earth, and 53 severely injured. These people went out to enjoy themselves and weren’t aware that Sunday would be their last day. Families and friends of the victims, even people who were not directly involved in the tragedy, are forever changed. Lives are destroyed. Minds are permanently scarred from this horrific spectacle and most likely will never heal. Some are petrified to even step foot outside of their homes fearing for their lives. The fear we live in today prevents us from living. We shouldn’t feel like we have to avoid going to public places containing large masses of people in order to ensure our safety. We should just live without constantly having the thought in the back of our minds that we might not return home. This is no way to live. This is wrong. It’s all so wrong.
Why is this world plagued with so much hate and intolerance? How could a single human being be filled with so much hatred and pure anger that they could take away another human life without batting an eyelid? How could people be so cruel? It seems like a week can’t go by without another mass shooting occurring. According to PBS, there have been a total of 372 mass shootings which took place in the U.S. alone. PBS also states that in the U.S., there have been 133 mass shootings in 2016 thus far. It appears rather likely that at least one mass shooting will occur per day, considering there has only been 162 days in the present year thus far. The statistics surrounding gun violence in this nation alone are simply astonishing, and to be frank, rather terrifying.
It’s so sad that this is the world we live in. This is the world that our children have to grow up in. It appears that mass shootings have now become the new norm. Gun violence and terrorist attacks occur so frequently that it doesn’t have an impact on us unless we or a loved one have been directly involved in it. During one of my classes two semesters ago, the subject came up during a lecture and everyone remained expressionless. It was as if the violence that occurs throughout our nation possesses no impact on their lives whatsoever. We become almost desensitized. That alone is an issue. Gun violence is so normal nowadays that we almost expect it and when it happens, we brush it off as if it’s no big deal. It is a big deal. Lives are being lost. Whether it be one or 49, it’s something that shouldn’t be. We shouldn’t have to be taught to expect violence.
Ranging back to the historic riots which occurred at the Stonewall Inn in 1969, the LGBT community has been no stranger to hate crimes and discrimination. Groups of people are being brutally slaughtered and tormented just by existing. No matter how far this country progresses, I highly doubt there will be a day where there’s no more hate. Believing so is simply highly unrealistic. We may be able to drastically reduce the number of hate crimes and statistics of homicides against homosexuals, but not to its entirety. All I know is that this isn’t the type of world I want to raise my children in.
Despite all the bad, I refuse to believe this nation is too far gone. There’s far more love in this world than hate. I’m not naïve enough to believe that an article like mine will end terrorism, but that’s not my objective. As a writer, I believe that it is my duty to write about issues that matter and not leave anything unsaid. This issue we face in America today is far too important to ignore. We can’t afford to ignore it. We have to refuse to accept hate and radiate only positive energy into this earth. Negative energy only creates more negative energy and all it takes is one small comment to build a mountain of hate.
Maybe there’s not much we could do to physically prevent these attacks, but we could make a difference simply by radiating positive energy and showing kindness to one another. Love will always prevail. During times like these, it’s the only thing we have left. Hopefully someday, hate crimes will be a thing of the past, but until then; the only thing we could do is love. Love with every fiber of your being. God knows this world needs it.
