I've been researching details, timelines, and videos of the recent Dallas Police shooting, because I wanted to find a reason that such madness could occur from such an inhuman act.

Now, to give a brief summary of what happened at this shooting:

There was a protest over the killing of two African American youths by police officers within the previous few days. Then one heavily armed man assaulted several police officers with his firearms. There began a shootout where five police officers were killed and many more were injured. The shooter was a Army Veteran and was well known for being a helpful citizen for those in need.

His motive was to kill as many police officers as possible as revenge for the others who have killed African Americans. This is made very clear from his assault of the officers. Seen in this video clip [warning, this video is graphic], when an officer confronts him one-on-one, he fills him with bullets until the officer collapses. Not yet satisfied, he moves in and loads even more rounds into the fallen officer. The videographer describes it "like an execution."

It's very clear that this is an act of hate. This is not terrorism, this is not an act of attempted infamy, this is not a cry for help.

This is hate at its worst. This is hate like the many school shootings with motives to kill a specific person or persons. This is hate like the terrorist attack at Pulse in Orlando. This is hate like the violent rioting and fights that are breaking out during protests, presidential candidate rallies, and normal everyday locations.

Martin Luther King, Jr. once said:

"The ultimate weakness of violence is that it is a descending spiral, begetting the very thing it seeks to destroy. Instead of diminishing evil, it multiplies it. Through violence you may murder the liar, but you cannot murder the lie, nor establish the truth. Through violence you may murder the hater, but you do not murder hate. In fact, violence merely increases hate. So it goes. Returning violence for violence multiplies violence, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that."

The Dallas shooting is proof that violence only multiples violence, as MLK said. Two African American victims were killed by police officers, and in return, an African American shot several police officers.

This is not a solution. This is not the direction we should be going. Hate will only breed more hate.

If we decide to put our energy into hating police officers for their wrong actions, then hate the actions of the Dallas shooter as he acted against police officers, we are still breeding hate among us.

Instead we should use the opposite. Love will drive out hate and peace will drive out violence, just as light will drive out darkness.

To end on a positive note, I would implore you to watch the following video of Charlie Chapin's last speech in the WWII satire "The Great Dictator," and take it to heart the next time you feel yourself wanting to hate. Remember what hate breeds and remember what we can do to stop it.