God Bless America

I can't help but join my fellow Americans in mourning the current state of affairs in our country. I don't want to get political. I don't want to pitch one side against the other. I just want to talk about it. 

The complexity of what has been happening, and continues to happen daily, is mind-boggling. Authority figures killing innocent people. Frustrated and frightened civilians killing authority figures. Power has been abused. Anger has manifested into terrible acts of revenge inspired violence.

In both instances, a small group of people have tainted our perception of the larger pool of those out there doing actual good. Authority figures protecting people and doing what is right. Civilians protesting peacefully in hopes of raising awareness and pushing for change. They're out there. But it's hard to see through the fog of what is happening right now. Who can you trust?

​My comments above reflect only on recent happenings, they don't include the gun violence, the rapes, the government corruption, the ignored mental health care needs of so many, the pollution we're inflicting on Earth, the list goes on and on and on...

The thing that breaks my heart the most is that I feel utterly helpless among all of it. My social media post isn't going to make something change. My talking to loved ones about the injustice isn't going to fix anything. I'm tired of hearing about these things happening and not being able to do anything about it. I refuse to turn a blind eye to what is going on. 

Let's do something. I have no idea how to get started, who to talk to, what to do, but doing something has to be better than doing nothing right now. We live in a free country (that I feel so lucky to live in everyday, despite the oppression) where I believe "the people" can make a change, but unification, not retaliation, is what needs to happen right now.

I'll be reaching out to our politicians and legislators on the topics dearest to my heart. I encourage you to do the same. And if you know of local opportunities to congregate as "a people" to implement positive change - please reach out to me! Let's be part of the solution. Let's channel these feelings of uncertainty, frustration, fear, and anger into something GOOD. Let the bad in the world fuel our fire to DO MORE GOOD.

​God Bless America.

It is 07/14/16 and this topic is still on my mind. I ran across an absolutely fantastic science-based article about violence that I really encourage you to read: "Is Violence 'Senseless'? Not According to Science: Let's Make Sense of It and Treat It Like a Disease"

EXCERPT: "Science has shown that understanding violent behavior as contagious, indeed, as an actual epidemic, and treating the epidemic using a public health approach, has significant impact and saves lives. To truly care for people and communities, society must move beyond the antiquated notion that violence is committed by "bad people" to recognize that violence is committed by people who have been exposed to violence."

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