Violence is erupting as you read this, and violence will continue to explode today, tomorrow, or the next day. There is a seething anger, fueled by fear across the US and the people have had enough.
What does this have to do with me? you ask. It’s not my community. It’s not my neighbors. It’s not_____.Yes, it is. We are all connected. We are all human beings, and we all have a responsibility to help stop the violence and just as importantly to stop the cause of the violence.
What can I do? you ask. I am only one person, you say. One person. You are enough.
Following are thoughts on what you can do. Not one person is to do them all. Find the ones you are to do and get started on creating peace; get started on creating fairness among all peoples; get started on adding to everyone’s life. Your act may be simple and it will be enough if done with heart.
- Stop supporting movies that glorify and perpetuate violence. We take in the violence we see and with surround sound and big screens we take in the violence at deeper and more destructive levels.
- Deal constructively with your own anger. Anger energy destroys if not dealt with constructively. Instead of stuffing your anger until it comes out in a rage, deal with angry feelings by recognizing them and voicing them effectively.
- Exchange living in fear with living in love. Fear is contagious and so is love.
- Don’t let children play violent video games and don’t play them yourself. For children especially it’s often hard to discern where a game ends and life begins. There are enough scaries hidden under the bed. Don’t add more.
- Reach out to others, especially if you notice a young person is lonely or is being bullied. If you do not feel safe reaching out, then don’t, but if you can, do.
- If you notice a person who is being approached by police and they seem frightened of the police, become a witness. Get your camera out and film if possible.
- Report to authorities, and teach your children to report, any suspicious activity you see or suspicious posts on social media. If the authorities don’t take you seriously, make the report again and again until they do. You can also report to another agency.
- Be aware of what you are posting on social media. Are you adding to the problem with angry posts or are you adding to the solution with informed, verified, helpful information? Is there a balance with your posts, or are they only angry rants?
- Stand up for peace. Attend peaceful rallies.
- If you own a gun, look at why you know you are able to take another life. Guns have one purpose—to kill. If you have a gun, you must know you are capable of killing another human being. Maybe it’s time get rid of your gun.
- Speak up. On social media or in person, when you hear/read someone spouting false propaganda that promotes violence, speak up/write. Use facts and truth to back your argument, and of course, speak up/write in an assertive but civil and respectful manner.
- Write, call, and write and call again and again each government official who takes money from organizations that promote violence. Voice your opinion for sensible gun safety laws or for police to stop racial profiling, for example. Speak, write in a strong, assertive, and respectful manner.
- Donate to causes and politicians that support peace and human dignity and fairness for all citizens.
- Vote with your conscious. Use your vote to put local and national people into office who care about human life and are willing to stand up to politicians who are name-calling bullies.
- Say a prayer, meditate, laugh. All are powerful energies that can add love to our world.
Violence is epidemic in the US and in too many other places in our world. And it’s up to each and every one of us to make a choice. Are we adding to the violence or are we doing our best to add peace to the world.
It’s our choice. It depends on what kind of world we want to live in and create for our children.