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Finding the words

Adri's Adventures

Normally my column is full of fun, my odd antics and other crazy things that are going on around the community. However, this week I feel it is important to speak about what is currently happening at the national level.

As a reporter I have an obligation to inform and educate, so here goes…

Last weekend the nation’s foundation was rocked when protests broke out in Charlottesville, Virginia. Hundreds of white nationalists gathered to spread bigoted messages of hate and misinformation.

The demonstration led to the death of a 32-year-old woman, Heather Heyer. Heyer was killed when a car drove into her while protesting the nationalists’ rally.

Two Virginia state troopers – Lt. H. Jay Cullen and Trooper-Pilot Berke M. M. Bates – died as a result of a helicopter crash after they were deployed to help contain the violence happening at the rally.

When I first heard about the madness taking place in Virginia, I was in complete shock. I couldn’t comprehend the fact that in 2017 we still have people in the nation who display hate for others based on their skin color, race and religion. I honestly feel like our nation took a huge step back into the 1960’s.

Neo-Nazis bearing torches was something that I had only ever seen before in historical films and classroom education.

Throughout this week there has been continued unrest, rallies and an outpouring of consequences of the Charlottesville rally. Sadly, this has led to many people throughout the nation being in fear for their safety. Unfortunately, racism still exists across the nation and world.

I believe it is imperative that we as a nation decry this hate. We all have a responsibility to make the world a better place.

I was raised to respect everyone and not to judge someone by their skin, ethnicity, race or religion. We all cry. We all bleed. We all feel.

As a Christian, I cannot be silent when a Neo-Nazi proclaims to be one. A man or woman who cannot love his neighbor as God loves him or her needs a heart check.

I ask that we as a community look at the events that unfolded in Charlottesville and use them as inspiration to make a better world for the next generation. Stand up for those who cannot stand up for themselves.

Please stay educated and informed about what is going on in our country and world. Teach love, not hate.

How we choose to respond to negative situations determines who we are. Which side of history do you want to be on: love or hate?

I will end this column with the words of Martin Luther King, Jr.:

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”

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