There has been so many responses to the recent tragedy in Orlando that have sparked many debates, hate speech, ignorance, and also prayers, positive support, and a call to action (both in a positive and negative way).  Personally, I have been full of so many different emotions and feelings that I tried by best to stay quiet; however, I now need to write my feelings out.  

What happened in Orlando is certainly terrible, awful, and just so sad.  These poor people lost their lives, their families and friends lost their loved ones, many people were hurt and suffered traumatically, and our country once again feels unsafe and violated.  

Unfortunately, this tragedy has turned into a platform for people to make hurtful and hateful remarks toward communities of people who are suffering like the rest of our nation.  This is infuriating to me because we are only adding to our current culture of death and hate rather than building a culture of life and love.  It's sad that this young man decided to commit this tragedy; but we only continue his flawed logic by spouting off hate speech toward our Muslim and LGBT brothers and sisters.  

Whatever led this troubled young man to make the terrible decision he made started with what seemed to be a simple dislike with a group of people and that eventually grew into hatred and led him to make a decision that led to the slaughtering of people.  This is not the fault of anyone but our universal culture of death and hate.  This is the not the problem of any one religion, nation, creed, or culture.  The culture of death and hate reigns around the world in a variety of ways.  

My brothers and sisters, please stop the hate.  We read in 1 John 4:8, "God is Love."  If we want to share God then we need to share Love, because God is Love!  Don't hate or wish harm on anyone; rather, love everyone with the same generous love God has for you, for me, for all people.  Stop the hate and start to Love.  Please!  #JustLove