Where have we failed as a society that when the most sensitive of our heart strings are pulled we retaliate against each other instead of coming together to fix what’s wrong.
The wake of the murder of 49 innocent people in Orlando has not opened up our eyes, it’s only worked to divide us more.
That’s our failure. And it’s a tragic one.
After 9/11 we came together. Our country was torn, but as a community, from ocean to ocean, we repaired instead of retreated.
But now, after a similarly horrendous attack, we are pitted against each other. The rhetoric from political figures is driving the wedge into an already muddy series of comingled complex issues. Everybody wants to blame everybody else instead of taking a stand and making a change. We can talk until blue in the face, but without action there’s no point in hope for the future.
I am proud of my Second Amendment rights. While I have never shot a gun in my life, it’s nice to know that I, as an American, would be able to express that right whenever I would want.
In that same breath, I do believe there should be better, tighter regulations. No, nobody is going to take your guns away. The goal, in my opinion, would be to ensure those responsible for enabling such terror be held equally accountable. That goes for the politicians that are inactive or mum on the issue, as well.
But I don’t think it’s strictly a gun control issue. That’s too much of an oversimplification. Clearly people wanting to inflict pain will find a way, despite any kind of ban on firearms. No, that’s not the answer.
There are so many issues — mental health, religion, culture — that are at play following this tragedy. But the overall message should be that we need to spread love, not hate.
When we hate, we’re no better than those attempting to attack our way of life. Love needs to be heard louder and further than hate.
That’s the only way we can begin to truly change.
So let’s start there, shall we?
