My husband is kind of a shy guy. He doesn’t feel the need to talk (unless it’s in the car with me). He has opinions, but doesn’t feel the need to share them and when he does speak, it is usually to make a joke or say something witty or funny. He’s a serious guy, but he doesn’t take himself too seriously. Which is one of the things I love the most about him.
Which is why, when earlier today he was typing away on his phone, I asked him what he was doing. My curiosity was piqued even more when he replied, “ranting.”
Last night, 50 people were murdered. Fifty. Five. Zero.
And why were they murdered?
…one word.
Hatred.
My husband’s “rant” was posted on Facebook and centered around this ugly, heavy, ridiculous word. In it, he says,
I’m absolutely DISGUSTED to see people ON BOTH SIDES of the 2nd Amendment using the tragedy in Orlando to push their agenda. It hasn’t even been 24-hours since FIFTY people were MURDERED and yet all you can do is salivate at the mouth to say, “told you so.” Whether or not you believe this country has a gun problem or a mental health problem, this country DOES have a hate problem. Until that is solved it doesn’t matter how folks will hurt and kill others, they’ll find a way.
And I’m not just talking about the killer hating homosexuals. Folks hating him not for killing these innocent people but because he’s a radical Muslim. Pro gun hating the anti’s and visa-versa.
What if I told you you could disagree with someone, with their values, with their religion, but not hate them???! What if I told you that when people who disagree with your opinions it doesn’t mean they hate you??!
Guess what, I don’t agree with gay marriage. But guess what, I don’t hate homosexuals. I love them. I am privileged call many of them friends. We just happen to disagree on an issue that’s very important to them. Guess what? I don’t agree with how Muslims practice religion, because I am a Christian. But I don’t hate them, I love them. I have several Muslim friends, we just disagree on how we practice religion. Continue on and on with anyone who is different than or thinks different than me. GREAT. They have an opinion and a belief just like I do. I’m not perfect, but it’s how I strive to live.
Those differences of ideas and opinions SHOULD be what makes this thing we call humanity great, but instead we chose to hate and use them to bring humanity where it has come to today.
Jesus said the second greatest command is to love your neighbor. Excuse the language but he never said to hurt people or be an asshole to them because they think differently than you.
So in the wake of today’s tragedy, I say this. Shut up about your ideas and feelings on Guns, homosexuals and Muslims. Leave your hate at home. Go hug someone you love and be thankful you still can. Today, thanks to hate, the families and friends of more than FIFTY people can never hug that special someone again. Think about that for a minute. Let it sink in.
If you pray – pray for the families and friends of those killed in this senseless act. Pray for those that witnessed it and will face trauma for the rest of their lives. Pray for the physicians treating the many wounded. Pray for the family and friends of the killer as they wrestle with what he did. Pray for this country and this generation to turn from a people of hate into a country of love where people can express different ideas back and forth and be ok with someone else disagreeing with them.
If you’re still reading this, whether we disagree on issues or not, I love you and respect you.
Rant over.
This isn’t about guns, people. It’s not about guns or words or knives or bombs or gas or rope or scissors or pencils or cars or fire or anything else that is used as a weapon against another human being.
This is about hatred.
And until we can snuff out hatred, innocent lives will continue to be snuffed out by hatred-fueled violence.
You wanna stop senseless killings?
You wanna make the world a safer place?
You wanna raise your children in a world with less violence?
Stop the hate.
Learn to love people who are different than you. Learn to disagree with people who are different than you (without getting angry about it). Get over yourself, take responsibility for yourself and learn to get along with others.
You don’t have to like everyone in the world, but what’s the harm in loving them?