Waking up to the news that Las Vegas was the newest victim of such a horrifying event left me struggling for words. America, when did we become so divided, and when do we wake up?
It’s easy to feel lost in a world of tweets, social media posts, news articles, and media all designed to get us to feel nothing but anger and hate at one another. A media only aimed at further separation.
It’s easy to lose sight of what it means to be united but when we hear the news of bystanders springing into action to care for the injured makes me think there is hope. Hope that maybe we can find our way back. As Martin Luther King Jr. said “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”
This is the most deadly mass shooting in U.S. history. Followed closely by the Pulse Night Club Shooting, and Virginia Tech. America it’s time to wake up! This has gone on too long.
The Heroic actions of Police officers, who in the middle of the carnage in Vegas, stood tall to try and lead everyone to safety, and our Veterans who jumped into the fray to tend to the wounded as best as they could with no thought to their own lives. These are the acts of unity that will remain with us long after this event.
Mass shootings do not discriminate. This is about human life. This is about people. They are mothers, fathers, daughters, sons, aunts, uncles, sisters, brothers, and friends. They are someone’s world and someone’s world is now shattered.
Do you remember when Virginia Tech happened? It was the largest school shooting since Columbine. The outpour of support for the faculty, the students and the campus as a whole was second to none.
Pulse nightclub is known for being a gay bar and that alone is enough to drive a wedge between many. And yet, when a shooting occurred no one cared who was gay or straight. We cared, as a nation, about the pain and suffering experienced. We put away our views on sexuality and we loved everyone for who they were. And we stood with them in their time of need.
And yet when Colin Kaepernick or any other player in the NFL kneels for the anthem we divide. We choose to support our military or support a movement. For Kaepernick this isn’t about supporting or not supporting our military or loving America. It’s about Unity.
I think Angela Danker said it best when she said:
“This isn’t about stats.
This is about Kaepernick refusing to play his role. Stay in his lane.
This is about America waking up to its racist roots: even in a league that offers a rare chance for African American men to be millionaires.”
We stand united in crisis. We stand united when the bad guys come knocking on our door. We stand together to help those hurt by natural disasters. So America, it’s time. Wake up.
It’s time to stand united in the face of racism. As Martin Luther King Jr also said: “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” So where will we stand America? Will we be a nation united, or will we do what is easy, and continue to divide?
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