I am deeply troubled by the fact that, regardless of our positions, a significant portion of comments, posts, tweets, and retreats has shown that many Americans no longer understand what it means to be an American.
The media has excelled in fostering a society that thrives on commercialism and has conditioned us from birth to believe that there is always someone to fear, blame, or hold responsible for our perceived threats or discomforts.
To effect change in this country, we must embody that change. We should move beyond defending our perceived rights from behind computer screens and couches. Instead, run for political office, engage in community activities, and show decency by offering assistance to those in need—not handouts. Change does not mean vandalizing our spaces. Riots, akin to adult temper tantrums, resolve nothing and incur millions in damages because people become angry and fail to articulate their emotions. By refraining from riots, we also prevent instigators from staging events that create divisions in communities where none existed before.
You might be familiar with the saying, "America is advanced citizenship; you have to want it badly because it won't come easily." With our freedoms comes the possibility that others may exercise freedoms that conflict with our own.
We reside in a nation where we have the right to think independently. Let's embrace that... Let's stop allowing the media to dictate our decisions and shape our beliefs. We must transcend the trivialities of the social climate and be the change, to rid ourselves of the persistent heaviness in our hearts. The concept of the land of the free extends beyond our current limitations. We are a nation that has strayed from the path we embarked upon over 200 years ago.
May we all find the courage, strength, and wisdom to love our neighbor and respect differing opinions.
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