How can we expect change to come when we aren’t willing to do anything to help? How can we sit idly by and watch person after person destroy our peace of mind and what unity we have left?

Apathy is the destroyer of humanity, in my opinion. When we don’t care what’s going on around us because it “doesn’t affect us”, we turn a blind eye to those around us who currently are suffering.

Just because it’s not happening in our small town, doesn’t mean it has nothing to do with you. What will happen if, God forbid, something bad does happen in our little community? I hope that it doesn’t take something that catastrophic to wake everyone up, but sometimes you have to hit rock bottom before anything gets done.

In times like this where there seems to be no unity and people who only differ in the pigmentation of their skin are pitted against one another, you may not think that you can personally change anything. That’s false; you can be a change agent.

You may think that you are so small and insignificant that your actions and opinions don’t matter, but that is so far from the truth.

Think of the great leaders of the world. They took a stand, many of them alone, and stood for what they believed. If they had never taken that step, where would this country be today?

I urge you, and myself, to get out of your comfort zone and do something to help. Don’t laugh at that hurtful or ignorant comment, rebuke it and show that you will not be a part of such talk.

Don’t give in to mob mentality when the mob says this is wrong or this is right. Go against the tide, and take a stand. We will never get past this hatred, violence and ignorance until we put aside apathy and see that it all truly affects each and every one of us.