This week I so badly wanted to write a long, drawn-out explanation of my political and social stance on the horrible recent events. Guns, religion, sexual orientation, terrorism... our recent media streams have been full of nothing but controversial and mind-boggling realities. It’s sad.

My heart hurts so badly that we, as human beings, not the government, allow this to continue to happen. We turn a blind eye when convenient, but attack those in power when something goes wrong. Don’t forget that we the people elect our officials. We the people ultimately have the power to change our world. I want to write pages upon pages on why we as people, we as Americans, cannot allow our divided opinions to overrule our compassion at the expense of innocent victims of oppression for their religion, sexual orientation, political views, or nationality.

Not just about gun control, not just about terrorism, not just about immigration, not just about homophobic beliefs. This is not a liberal vs conservative topic—this is about making a choice as one nation to come together to compromise what is best for us. With the upcoming election, division In the United States will be at an all time high. We cannot let political agendas and manipulative candidates allow us to forget who has the real power: the people.

No, we cannot refuse all travel and immigration, but we can control it. No, we cannot take guns away from law abiding citizens, but we can control them. No, we cannot force everyone to agree or not agree on controversial and religious issues, but we can come together to create a compassionate and more unified country and ultimately planet. And it starts with you. You can stand up. You can stop pushing far left and far right political agendas. You can start to listen to the people around you, find truth in their opinions, and alter your views to be the most informed and the most human. You can stop identifying yourself as a “die-hard Republican” or a “radical liberal” and begin identifying yourself as a human who wants to make the world safe and secure for us all.

No matter your views on individual issues, you are human first, just like everyone else in this world. Just because you were lucky enough to be born or raised in America does not mean you are any different than someone in the Middle East. Show compassion. You have no idea what goes on in other parts of this world, or what it’s like to live and grow up in an environment such as that, even if you have traveled or even served abroad. We as Americans are privileged and so incredibly blessed to be where we are, there’s no denying it. But understanding that how, where, by who, you were raised is what made you you. You are who you are because of your environment. You have no right to try and understand someone else. In the end, we are all skin and bones. That’s just a fact.

Love thy neighbor as oneself. No matter where we all came from. We are all more alike than you think.

So, I will end my words there. I will not go into detail, there’s no need to explain anything other than we are all human. Our privilege is luck, nothing more. Don’t forget this when you are judging someone else. If the roles were switched, how would you wish the world treated you? (I’m sure you’d prefer not to be called a terrorist or shot for who you kiss good night).

America is a bubble, a bubble that is slowly being popped, but a bubble. It’s easy to remain selfish and stand for what is easiest for you, but in the end, won’t it be nice to know you helped make the world a better, safer, more welcoming place? Just my two cents.