Alright, looks like I can kind of type a post tonight through the CMS. I opted against running today, due to schedule concerns. I will do my yoga and my run in the AM. Drive to the dirty Jerz for a party, then back for the race. That’ll be fun! So I didn’t talk about the whole domestic terrorist attack in South Carolina in my video last night. When I get more thoughts on it I will. Needless to say, I’m fairly sickened by this whole thing and make no mistake, this is domestic terrorism. The man is a racist, a terrorist who listens to too much conservative echo chamber, believing that “they” are taking “his” country from him. What a load of horse shit. Listen people, everyone has a right to exist, and everyone has a right to a voice, equal treatment, equal voice. It pains me so much to see so many beautiful, capable, intelligent, caring, kind people discounted because they look different, or they act different, or they were born different. Yes, we all have differences, we all have our own story, Some people’s stories intersect, others remain parallel. It doesn’t matter though. Like I’ve said, we need to respect all our brothers and sisters, as a family. Even the completely rotten ones, like this jackass in SC. Yes, he needs to be removed from society, he cannot function with the rest of us if he is going to kill. He is not respecting his brothers and sisters. But we should not hate him, and while we should keep him locked away, we should show him the kindness and compassion that is surely lacking within him. Perhaps our example will lead him to a revelation, but if nothing else, at least we will not lower ourselves to his base actions.
\nKindness can win the day, love can win the day. It was said by MLK Jr. and it is true, darkness cannot drive out the darkness, only light can do that. Where there is darkness, we must shine our brightest if we hope to defeat it. We should work to defeat this, to end the inherent systemic racism, and to stomp out the individual hatred and racism that so many still hold in their heart. The bigotry, the violence, it all has to go, and we have to keep asking ourselves, “What are we (as a species) accomplishing?” But we can’t let the horrible actions of a few get us down and defeat us. We must keep pushing forward, examine what we can do as individuals to create change, no matter how uncomfortable it may make us, and then we have to move forward to become that change. I think more than that, I think we need to become the love we want to see in the world.
\nWe need to start teaching that all humans, and all other living animals have a right to be here, a right to live, and none of us have the right to say otherwise.
\nOk, I’ll get off my soapbox now. But we really need this madness to stop, once is too many times, and now this seems almost normal, and I know that is a terrible thing. So let’s get out there and do our best to end this violent, virulent racism. Let’s dedicate ourselves to love, and dedicate ourselves to being (as they said in Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure) excellent to each other. Goodnight<\/p>\n