Where is the Love?

(A post written August 2017 in regards to the “unite the right rally” held in Charlottesville VA)

Every morning I hear the gentle buzzing of my phone two seconds before the alarm goes off. I reach over and try to stop it before the sound blares through my still waking ears. A wave of anxiety rushes over me as I check to see what act of terrorism, racism, or hate overcame the world while I slept. Every day it is something new. Every day we slip a little further from our humanity.

As a kid I grew up thinking that racism had died. Maybe it was my young naive heart or my youthful optimism. I had hoped that we had moved beyond this strong form of hatred. Racism is real. If you deny it, you are enabling those who wish pain and hurt to come upon fellow humans. For a moment, I wont talk about the shaming, passed up opportunities, or stereotyping as forms of racism. For now, I want to talk about the events that have happened in Charlottesville this weekend. Seeing videos of humans carrying torches and chanting inhumane slurs about other people brought a fear that I haven't felt since learning about Nazi Germany in my history class. Did none of those people pay attention in history? Do they not remember feeling the outrage and sadness in their hearts when they learned of the things the Nazis did to men, women, and children? Do they not remember the heroic stories of people risking their lives to save those who were being beaten, tortured and killed at the hands of the Nazis? If they have even the slightest memory, how can they walk around carrying a flag with the Nazi symbol, promoting the exact same message we've spent a lifetime trying to erase?

There has to be a better way to live.

Terror attacks are sweeping the world on a daily basis. These are people who promote hatred and violence against people who are not like them. These extremists (of any background, religion, or belief) are modern day Nazis who are in line with with extremists who promoted hate and violence this past weekend. Where is the love? Why are we constantly trying to tear down other people? Why can't we just turn the other cheek? I grow tired and fearful of the direction our world is heading in. We need strong leaders who will condemn and push back against these hateful actions.