What Truly Matters

If you have existed in the world for the past week – or months -- truly, you’re aware that we have faced tragedy upon tragedy in our nation. I, for one, am heartbroken. Heartbroken and angry at my fellow Americans who are seemingly unable to put aside our ego, admit that there is a problem bigger than ourselves, and have tough conversations. Why? What are we afraid of? That we may actually be part of the problem? As long as we sit in silence while humans are having their lives taken away, we are part of the problem. So why aren’t we as passionate about becoming a part of the solution as we are deflecting blame for the monstrosities in this world?

Why are we afraid to become allies to our neighbors who are losing their lives, losing their fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, their families?Instead, we watch and we witness other humans losing their lives and instead of being proactive and demanding change, we sit and watch. We wait for someone else to do something about it while making sure that nobody blames us.

In the aftermath, society has decided that you have to be on one side or the other: you either support blue lives or black lives. It seems as if being a lover of lives in general and standing for peace isn’t an option anymore, you have to choose. Instead of standing together, creating an unbreakable bond of citizens who support one another, we have allowed ourselves to become so divided that we have to choose which person’s life matters least. Why? Who gave us the right to decide the value of another human life?

As a white female, I do not, nor will I ever know what it’s like to walk for one second as a part of the black community, but I can become an ally. I can stand for justice, I can fight for change, and I can love every single person on this planet as much as the next. I can say that I am certain that my life is not more value than anyone else’s due to the color of my skin, my age, my educational background, my economic status, nor my gender.

As long as there are lives being taken at the hands of other humans, there will not be peace in this world. As long as we still think that a life for a life (no matter the guilt) is the answer, there will not be peace in this world. As long as we are afraid to stand together as one body – one human race – there will not be peace in this world.

I refuse to be a part of the problem. I refuse to sit by while there are still people being brutally murdered in the streets of my country. I will stand for peace, justice, unity, and love, always.

Who is right and who is wrong doesn’t matter at this point -- a solution is what matters. Change is what matters to those who are living in fear due to the color of their skin. Placing blame is no longer important, becoming an ally for equality and peace is what matters at this point. Creating change so that there are no more lives lost is what matters.

My life matters. Your life matters. His life matters. Her life matters. Their life matters. Life matters. Love matters. People matter. Be the change this world so desperately needs -- that is what matters.