I often find myself in a state of worry when I think about the world. I frequently have to turn off the news because I cannot bear watching such bad things happen. Then I think about how pathetic that is because there are people out there living these tragic news stories and here I am saying that I don’t have the stomach to watch them. Then there are the politicians who sigh at this news in press rooms and recite speeches full of empty promises of a better tomorrow—a tomorrow that, from the looks of it, is destined to be rough.
Now, I know that I am not the first one to say this, but it stinks that people have to worry about being shot in the street or in a movie theater or in their front yard. No one should ever have to worry about that. The shootings this week were absolutely devastating to the communities involved and to America as a whole. My heart goes out to each and every one of the families and friends who lost someone in the violence. I am sure there is a better, more poetic way to phrase this, but all I can say is I am disappointed in America. I am disappointed in people who shoot other people just because they can. I am disappointed that people think shooting other people will resolve their anger. I am disappointed that the people we look up to in government promise us change in words and fail to do so in action. I am disappointed that we remain so conservative with our gun laws even though we see the consequences time and time again.
Furthermore, it seems that even with every step forward in technology and intelligence, we are devolving back into the primitive animals that we have worked so hard to separate ourselves from. And perhaps that is all we really are—savage animals and nothing more. Personally, I do not want to believe this is the truth, but with the way things have been going lately, I have no choice but to consider it a possibility.
In addition, everyone is saying if you aren’t vocal or outwardly enraged by police brutality or gun control, then you are on the other side. And for me, that is certainly not the case. My silence is that disappointment in people who don't understand that they are still fueling the fire. Because in my opinion, there is no other side. I am on the side of humanity. And this may be ignorant or cliché or whatever you would like to call it, but I truly hope that we can have peace between countries and between races. Because in the end, no matter what shape or shade we come in and no matter who we worship or which beliefs we hold, we are the same. We are all seventy-five percent water. Our lungs can only make use of oxygen and each of us has a heart that pulses blood throughout the body. Yes, when it comes right down to it, we are all human.
