It seems like the United States, who most people used to want to call home, is turning into a constant civil war. Between movie shootings, school shootings, and random acts of violence, our nation is falling apart very quickly. I'm not going to say that some shootings/bullying/acts of violence aren't race related because the reality of it is, some are and I'm not naive to that. What I will say is that we are all too quick to jump to that conclusion.
Currently, many are raising hell about police brutality. Did you know, of the 759 people killed by police this year, 368 of them are Caucasian which is more than the 195 African Americans. This isn't to say that those 195 blacks didn't matter, because ALL LIVES MATTER, it's just a statistic. Why is it that the only thing we see on the news is about police brutality towards blacks? Why is there nothing about what the victim could have possibly done to provoke the shooting? Not all acts of violence are race related.
August 26, 2015, an African American shot two whites, of WDBJ-TV. He posted a video on twitter of him waving the gun around, and then shooting the female victim, Alison Parker. People commented things such as "Such a waste of talent. So sad he killed himself before he could recover from this time of mental instability," and "People are getting tired of this racism. He finally did something about it." Note: I do not want people to call him racist. You do not know the full story. BUT, I am tired of shootings and people being stupid always being someone else's fault. HE DID A STUPID THING. IT IS HIS FAULT AND NO ONE ELSE CAN TAKE THE BLAME FOR THIS. It does not matter if you "grow up without a dad," or "had a rough home life," at some point, early in everyone's life, you know right from wrong and this was completely wrong.
The problem with America today is that no one can take responsibility for their actions. No one can admit when they're wrong. And most significantly, no one is being taught tolerance or love.
Luke 6:35 states, "But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked."
Whether someone is racist or just plain stupid, which if you ask me, they go hand-in-hand, you are called to love them. If you're not one of scripture, you still know right from wrong and you still know what is of good morals and what is not. Stop blaming others for your or another's stupidity. Stop creating violence in plot of revenge. Shootings are not solving anything.
I will identify as a white, 19-year-old female. I was raised by republican, southern-baptist parents, THIS DOES NOT MEAN I IDENTIFY AS A RACIST. Not all blacks are thugs. Not all cops are brutal. And not all whites are racist. Stop labeling people as a whole because of their race or occupation.
To the friends and family of Alison Parker and Adam Ward, please accept mine and the Odyssey family's sincerest condolences. Nothing can justify this act of violence, but I pray in time that you will find peace and know that now they are always with you.
