Something really messed up happened in Pittsburgh two weeks ago, and no, I’m not talking about the vicious beating the Cleveland Browns endured under the hands of Big Ben and Antonio Brown. What happened was far worse, and probably one of our lows. The United States is no stranger to mass shootings. We’ve had our share over the years, and more than a few of them have been motivated by a hatred towards a certain group.

In 2015, Dylan Roof shot up a black congregation during a bible study; In 2016, Omar Mateen opened fire in the Pulse Night club, killing 49 members of the LGBTQA community; In 2018, you’d think by the yelling of angry far right conservatives that racism, and anti antisemitism was dead; but nope, not a chance. Eleven were shot dead in a synagogue for none other than their religious affiliation.

Look guys, none of us are the same, and that is probably a great thing. The world wouldn’t be as colorful as it is if we all looked, thought, and acted the same. We all have our differences. We on Facebook have had our differences. I have gotten in to heated ten way debates with some of y’all on some hot button issues. I’ve seen fights breakout in the comments sections of some of my rather controversial statuses. Regardless of frustrations on both ends, I love that our ideals get to clash together, for better or worse.

Regardless of how different we are, everyone belongs in this world, and no one should ever feel as if they don’t. Well, in a perfect world that is. Sadly, we don’t live in a perfect world, and there exist those who have strong hatred for those who don’t look, talk, walk, or act like them. There are people in this world who have a strong hatred for those who don’t share the same ideals. Antisemitism was something that should’ve died the day we brought the beef to Hitler’s door. Sadly it’s just as alive as racism.

I’ve lived through many mass shootings, but this is the first one that has hurt since the Pulse Night Club shootings. With the Pulse shootings, I know many people in the LGBTQA community that I’m pretty cool with. With the Charleston Church shooting, why that one hurt is pretty obvious. With this shooting, it bothers me because Jewish people have been pretty impactful in my life ways you wouldn’t imagine.

Y’all already know I’m on the spectrum. I grew up visiting Ludwik Szymanski (Google him when you have the chance), a once prominent child psychiatrist at Children’s Hospital that helped me navigate some of the complications that came with my unique wiring. Dr. Szymanski is a Holocaust survivor, and I constantly wonder to this day where I’d be in life if he never pulled through. I also have plenty of good friends, co workers, and acquaintances who are also Jewish. I’m also a sucker for good Kosher wine (Barkan Merlot, and Malbec are some of my personal favorites).

There are couple of things I shall leave you with.

Antisemitism, racism and homophobia are alive and well. Don’t ever let anyone tell you otherwise. Never let anyone try to justify the actions of Robert D. Bowers.

This will undoubtedly bring up the debate of guns once more. Before we start bickering about guns which is inevitable, how about we come together, focus, and call this incident for what it is; a hate crime.

Regardless of our differences in opinion, religion, ideologies, etc., we’re still called to love one another. I know we’ve had our spats on here over various issues (well primarily one, and y’all already know what that is), but I just want y’all to know that I love each and everyone of y’all. We’re all different for a reason. Like it or not, we’re stuck with each other until the day we die.

With that being said, no one, regardless of how much their differences bother you deserves to go out the way those in Pittsburgh did. We can be different and coexist. We can have different religious views, and still coexist. We can have different political affiliations, and still coexist. We can have differing opinions on what happened to the footballs at Foxboro during the 2014 AFC Championship (it was the weather damn it!), and still coexist. We can have differing opinions on whether or not pineapples go on pizza and still coexist

In all seriousness, this senseless violence needs to stop! I’m not here to place the blame on anyone or anything. I’m just here to say that we all messed up pretty badly, but we can right this wrong one act of kindness at a time.

Stay classy…

 

Flemmings Beaubrun is an avid gamer and lover of music. When not working, Flemmings likes to spend his time whipping up dank beats for the masses. He also spends his weekends thrift shopping for rare video games and obscure electronics. Other times he’s in front of a TV with a giant bowl of cereal enjoying shows from the 90s.