Just Stop

I've gone back and forth about whether to write this or not.  I mean, let's face it.  Monday was a horrible, horrible day.  No matter what side of the political spectrum you fall on, yesterday sucked and no amount of screaming at each other is going to make it better.

I'm not going to use this blog to talk about gun control or the senseless loss of life.  There's enough about that already.  I'm not going to use this blog to talk about my political views right now. I fall squarely on the left and think that "Liberal" and "Patriot" are two words that are not mutually exclusive.  That should tell you whatever you need to know.

All I'm going to do is just ask anyone who's reading this to just stop.

That's it.  Just stop.  

Stop whatever you're doing right now (or avoiding doing since you're reading this blog). Stop forwarding inflammatory e-mails.  Stop sharing partisan Facebook posts.  Stop yelling at the top of your internet voice about the horrors of the other side's viewpoint.

Just stop.

And once you've stopped, start "Being".  

Be the person who listens to the other sides' viewpoint. 

Be the person who looks for common ground in order to move the discussion forward.

Our country is tearing itself apart from the inside right now.  I've seen posts from people who say, "It would be better to let it all crumble down and start over."  

I don't agree.  I hope you don't either.  It's not too late.

Patrick Henry, an American patriot, said in his last public speech, "United we stand. Divided we fall.  Let us not split into factions which must destroy that union upon which our existence hangs."

We're falling now, but we can still catch ourselves.  We can be the America we're supposed to be, but it has to start with each of us.

Be inclusive.

Be caring.

Be a leader.

Be an example.

And most importantly, be human and remember that the people you've been shouting at are human too.