In the wake of the shooting in Orlando, you would expect a reverent atmosphere, one in which we could, as a nation, soberly discuss ways to prevent further tragedies from happening. Instead, what I have found is that we have half the country trying to do just that, and the other half saying, “I told you so,” and that “radical Islam” is the source of our countries woes. You know, not the fact that assault rifles are readily available to anyone and everyone.

I am a liberal because they are the ones voting for much needed gun law reform. Because liberals have comforted and supported the LGBT community in the face of adversity. Because liberals understand that privilege exists, and that the only way we can move on as a country is to embrace all of America’s people, not just the white, heterosexual men.

Conservatives, on the other hand, believe that the answer to mass shootings is to sell more guns and get them into the hands of as many people, because I guess they’re nostalgic for the days of the old wild west. Conservatives believe that the LGBT community either has no right to exist, needs to go be gay somewhere else or is plain and simply going to hell. Conservatives believe that people of other races need to just pull themselves up by their bootstraps if they want to be successful, despite the systemic oppression that prevents that from happening. Now I understand that not all conservatives or liberals embody these traits and the truth is that people are often a mix of the two. What matters is that the traits that spread hate and intolerance are eliminated.

Looking at the state of our country I am scared and I am angry, but most of all I am determined. When I was told as a kid that one day my generation would be in charge of the country, I had no idea this would be our situation, but I’m determined to make things better. Presidential elections are coming and it seems that America has become polarized on every issue. We are inching our way to a tipping point that will cause us to either push onward towards coexistence between all people or fall backward into the prejudices of our history. We cannot fall backward. Liberals are more important than ever if this sprouting seed of coexistence is to survive. We need to rally and we need to stop the spread of hate and intolerance. That is our duty regardless of who we are. That is why I’m proud to be a liberal.