What We Can't Do

Nearly every morning I wake up only to be bombarded with all of the devastation occurring around the world, as I am sure many of you have been for the past few months. If you have not been keeping up with the news recently, let me recap some of the events that have happened only within the last week.

From a shooting at the Washington state mall taking the lives of victims aged from 16 to 95 to the El Cajon shooting and death that followed in the protest of the events, we can only assume the worst as a nation. Let us not forget the recent Charlotte shooting, Houston shooting, South Carolina elementary school shooting, and New York City bombing that have all occurred in the past two weeks.

Extending past the United States, we constantly face the lamentable coverage of the reoccurring Syria airstrikes and refugees from hundreds of countries. All of this constant, non-stop tragedy in the world, yet it seems as if we simply choose to continue on with our lives in an extremely passive manner.

We have become numb as people.

We have become numb as a nation.

We have become numb as humankind.

Of course this is a blanket statement, however, the vast majority of us have grown so accustomed to this sickening news that we view it and ponder it in-between our breakfast and the first task of our day. Meanwhile, we try to reaffirm our minds with thoughts such as, "Man, this is really sad news, I hope our law enforcement will someday sort these issues out," or "well, it happens every day...our world is in such a tragic state."

Then, we have the privilege of shutting down our computer screens, putting away the newspaper, and closing the periodical in order to go on with our lives in a state of euphoric discontentment with today's society. This is what we cannot and should not do.

What Are You Going To Do

It is not a good idea to passively look over these events occurring in the world. It is not a good idea to ignore what is going on around you every single day. It is not a good idea to be numb to other people's lives and neglect those who desperately need your support.

Silence is not sympathy.

When you remain silent there is absolutely no progression taking place, and you are not displaying any sort of helpfulness towards change. Friends, "thoughts" are not enough, and mundane emotions towards these events only instigate the reoccurrences and routines of them even more. We as a society—and a world—are completely liable and subject to take action in these situations.

I am wholeheartedly urging you to be present and not to view these tragic events as commonplace or everyday aspects of life, for I cannot stress this enough...they should not be.

We need a reminder, and no, this reminder should not be in the form of yet another horrendous act. We need a reminder to be and to stay focused, but most of all we need to constantly remind ourselves to not be arrogant in our own lifestyles to overlook other people just like us.