What Unites Us

Today, as media outlets flood us with information about the Colorado shooting and the shooter who chose to take so many lives, I believe that it is important to remember not only victims, but tragedy as it affects us as a country and as humans. Tragedy is like Pandora's Box. When we first see it, it is all the terrible things that hit us: Number of victims, ages, reasons for it. But, with time, if we can manage to push past all the horrible things flooding out at us, and look deeper into it, I think we can find some strains goodness and hope in its aftermath. By this I mean, by looking at the heroes borne of the tragedy and how people all become united through it, we can find human goodness. In the Colorado shooting, many people lost or risked their lives to save someone else or help someone who was hurt. An example of this kind of heroism is the late Matt McQuinn, who dove on top of his girlfriend to save her life, even when it meant losing his. Then there was a group of teenagers who took care of a little boy when he was looking for his family, who had been inside the theater with him, and stayed until he found them. There are many more stories like this, not only with this tragedy, but with countless others too. Although these all people could have just thought about themselves and got out of there, they chose to help others instead, saving lives. The fact that these people acted so courageously, gives me hope. 

 

As humans, we are united by the fact that we know life is precious and should be treated with care and respect, not taken away so senselessly. We can empathize and sympathize with those who have been touched by tragedy. For this reason, people around the US, and the world, have been sending their prayers and thoughts to those victims and families of the shooting in hope of them knowing that they have someone there for them. As a country, for the first time in a long time, we all are united behind something. On Friday, political lines were dissolved when both Barack Obama and Mitt Romney released statements about the shooting. This might be the only time that we see Obama and Romney agree on something and use similar words to express their thoughts. Campaigning was cancelled in order to show respect. Hopefully, these political lines will stay dissolved long enough for something to be done so this doesn't happen again.

As the days progress, and more and more information is released about the victims and the shooting itself, I encourage you all to keep those who have been personally touched by the tragedy in your thoughts in prayers. It is also important to think about we can learn from this tragedy like that l life is short, that while you can, focus on what really matters to you, that things like this shouldn't happen and we should do everything to prevent them, and that when it matters, human goodness shows itself. My heart goes out to all the victims, their families, and those at the theater. You will be in my prayers.

*CNN did a really great article on the heroes of the shooting and I reccomend that you all read it: http://www.cnn.com/2012/07/25/opinion/bennett-aurora-three/index.html?hpt=hp_c1