Response to the Recent Violence

We are our brother's keepers. We are not islands to ourselves. We, human beings, of all colors, creeds, orientations and such are connected as one species. We share hopes, dreams, goals, determination and a need to be better than the generation before us.

We are not equal though. We are not all on a level playing field. And while we can give endless compassion and love, we can also fall to seemingly bottomless depths of hatred and cruelty. But we are one. We feel, think, cry, laugh, and bleed the same.

We are one. And we are hurting.

Right now, we are shouting. We are fighting. We are lashing out and finding blame. We are looking to hurt as we have been hurt. But we instead need to be silent. We need to stop. We need to breathe. We need to listen.

We are all hurting. We are all scared. We are all wanting safety, security, and peace. We all want to live without fear. But to move closer to that reality, we all need to listen. We need to understand and realize that we are more alike than different. We are one.

We can find solutions. We can create change. We can make this country, this world what we want it to be if we listen. If we stop seeing different, other, not me, wrong, sin, against this or that. We need to stop. Listen. Hear each other.

If you want to throw something, throw away labels. If you want to burn something, burn down the walls that divide us. If you want to destroy something, destroy the prejudices and quick judgements that pop up in your minds when you see someone not you. Unity. My brothers. My sisters. We are one.