I have always considered myself to be a rather stupidly optimistic person and I have always held high expectations of humanity. I've always thought that when given the chance, people will chose right over wrong, love over hatred, peace over violence. Growing up, I was always told that I had a big heart and that I cared so much.
So, needless to say, the past couple of weeks have been difficult to comprehend at times. Last Friday, I was hopping from one place to another and did not get the chance to sit down and look at what happened in Newtown, CT until much later. I called my parents in tears and when my dad said hello, I honestly nearly lost it. I can't imagine the pain and the terror of losing my family, nor can I think of what it would be like to lose a child.
Over the past couple of days, things on social media and in the news have seemed to taken a turn for the worst. We have villianized the shooter, children are being interviewed about the event, people are bickering, arguing, yelling. Westboro Baptist Church plans to picket the school and the funerals "to sing praise to God for the glory of his work in executing his judgement." Also, according to the Church, the shooting was because of so called "fag marriage".
My thing is that yes what the Newtown shooter was terrible and awful. Yes the Westboro Church is a twisted cult that preaches hate. But guys. Do not hate back. Violence isn't fixed by violence. Hate isn't fixed by hate. Saying that the people should be fryed or that you want to stab people doesn't fix anything - it just creates more violence. Stop arguing and fighting about gun control or other issues.
What has been happening over the past couple weeks needs time to heal. We need love and compassion, not more hatred and violence. It is the holiday season for many people and faiths, so let's keep in mind the families who have lost loved ones. Let's focus our energy into helping the people who have lost and who are wounded. Spread the love, not the hate.
So. In the next couple days, weeks, months, spread the love.
Do a random act of kindness to a stranger every day. Call your family and tell them you love them. Call a long lost friend and tell them a punny joke. Volunteer. Bake cookies and give them as gifts to people in the street who look like they could use a boost. Create care packages of food and other things for those who are homeless. Give love and you will receive love in return.There has been a lot of cynical pessimism floating around areas lately and maybe I'm just a crazy optimist, but right now we just need a love revolution. And all of these random acts of love and kindness may not change the world. But damn, they will change you.
And that where global change begins.
