Survivor Stories: A Question to Pose

A question to pose.

More times than not, gun violence is not a prominent issue in the average person's mind. If not directly affected by it, I've found that most people don't think about, want to fight against, or even care about gun violence when it's not in the newspaper headlines. Now, this does not apply to everyone. I would never aim to discredit the work that thousands of organizations do to combat gun violence. I will forever be in debt and filled with gratitude for the people that aim to change things.

Hopelessness is, unfortunately, a strong and powerful feeling. It is so easy to think that one person, one action, or one word could not make any difference. Individualism often comes with hopelessness. The thought that if it doesn't directly affect you, it is not your problem to solve. So, why even try? Why even try.

I'll tell you why.

Try for the young children whose lives continue to be taken from them. Try for the high school students trying to get through their school day. Try for the unique and abominable human spirit that possessed by every life taken.

Because the truth is, when we possess the traits of individualism and lose hope, the world loses with us. So we try to make change. Even in times of despair, we try. I firmly believe that as humans, we owe each other at least that.

But of course, my beliefs are not shared by everyone. So, I pose this question: as humans, what do you believe we owe to each other?

I strongly urge everyone reading this to reflect on the moral question I have posed. In times of turmoil and despair, the human race must fight to make change and support each other. It is the only way.