It is painful to see that discrimination and violence has become a way of life in today's world. It is not uncommon to hear about people being killed every other week, protests (sometimes becoming violent), or mass bombings and shootings occurring. Specifically, these things happen based off of race or a certain occupation. I wish I could say I lived in a world where all of these things were uncommon to hear about, but, sadly, I can’t.

We all know and are aware of the numerous attacks, threats, and homicides that take place almost every week in our country and even around the world. It is often a leading topic on the news and all over social media. What’s going on in our country is heartbreaking. Why do people need to keep shooting each other as if it’s going to solve any problems? People should not have to worry about their lives being in danger or have to live in fear just because of their race, job, or social status. The extreme violence, that seems to keep happening way too often, is tragic and upsetting. This will not solve anything, but just make matters worse. This violence, discrimination and racism is no way to live our lives nor make it better.

Racism and discrimination was created because people desire to have a reason to be superior to others. Nobody is born with hatred, it is learned and it's time for it to be unlearned. We have been influenced to believe that every person is “bad” or are guilty of something. The media also can promote this behavior by dramatizing it. This hatred amongst the human race has lead many people to get killed, or to kill others. All humans deserve to be respected.

Another reason why the major problem of racism and violence won’t go away is because we are so familiar with it that we are numbed to the sensitivity of the issue. This is starting to become something that we are so used to seeing and hearing about. If nothing changes, we are going to be in a constant war against ourselves that is never going to end.

Think of how happy a place this world would be if everyone could just accept each other for who they are and respect one another. We do not need to be arguing or debating violently. If one needs violence to enforce their ideas and thoughts, those ideas are worthless. Nobody should ever have to be discriminated against, especially violently, for their occupation, amount of money they have, what they believe in, or the color of their skin. The changing of the world begins with us.

We can’t fight violence with violence and this is something that everyone needs to come to realize. The world can be changed by examples, not by opinions. It’s time to start caring for all lives.

"Hatred and fear blind us. We no longer see each other, we see the faces of monsters, and that gives us the power to destroy each other." - Thich Nhat Hanh