Heartbroken for Las Vegas

I feel so angry, hurt and confused by the horrifying mass murder that occurred last night in Las Vegas. More than 50 beautiful people, who went out for night of fun, love and country music, are now dead. These are individuals that never expected this would be their last day. They all have ambitions they’ll never have the opportunity to follow and loved ones that never got to say goodbye. They were shot down by someone with multiple assault rifles from the 32nd floor of the Mandalay bay. Hundreds more were injured.

One of my best friends was there. He ran for his life and saw so many people shot. I still don’t know if all my friends and family are safe.

Las Vegas is my fucking city. The fear makes me want to spew hate and anger towards people who have beliefs that I think contribute to this happening. The fear makes me want to hide. The fear and anger inside me makes me want to know who the fucking perpetrator is to find out why he did it. It feels like I need answers because I want to be able to say, “This won’t happen again.”

But in this, I get to take responsibility for my choices. I choose not to know or say the shooter’s name. I choose to take action where possible. I choose to speak with passion and compassion. I choose to focus on the good— like the first responders. Like the heroes who carried the wounded to safety. Like the victims at the concert who threw themselves on top of their loved ones to protect them from bullets.

We all get to choose. Perhaps you have had certain held beliefs about guns, mental health, politics, terrorism, police, security. To you I ask, can we choose to be willing to be wrong? Can we speak in a way that the other can hear us? Can we come together and make a fucking difference in the name of all those lost their opportunity to last night? I urge us all not to get stuck in fear and anger. Separation and hate will only move us backwards. Unity and love will give us a chance to move forward.

Who you are, the choices you make and the words you choose are never neutral. You are either contributing to more hate or more love.

You choose.