To Whom It May Concern

It seems all I see on social media these days is negativity...

To Whom It May Concern:

Let me begin with an obvious fact: in no way do I claim to have all (or even any) of the answers to my own problems, let alone those of the world. I am far from perfect, and I make mistakes on a regular basis. I live on only with the hopes that I can learn from my mistakes and grow. I have seen many things that span both ends of the spectrum, ranging from acts of love and kindness to the terrible and obscene. I have seen hell, have lived there, in a purgatory of fear and uncertainty�"yet I was still proud to be an American.

But now I am truly fearful.

It seems that everywhere I look these days it’s easier to find hate then love. Whether it be from the news, social media, or random conversations on the street, all I seem to hear are people spreading hatred through fear. People are using the cruel and abysmal acts of a few to brand entire religions. If I recall correctly, not too long ago a similar situation occurred. When it was all said and done the world was shook to its core, and there were millions of dead Jews, gypsies, and homosexuals, not to mention the millions of soldiers and civilians that lost their lives due to a world at war.

Now, once more, we are on the brink.

I can make endless comparisons to situations that are similar to today: the American Civil War, The Bosnian-Serbian War, and countless others�"we could go all the way back to The Crusades. Though there are differences in all mentioned, the similarities are unignorably present. To put it simply: varying beliefs are debated with violence and bullying and other forms of unnecessary cruelty.

There is no winning this battle. Opinions are just that: Opinions. And opinions are, by definition, a “view, judgment, or appraisal formed in the mind about a particular matter.” So by definition, there is no correct or incorrect opinion. So what’s the point of arguing?

I write this open letter as a plea to all who may read it. Please�"PLEASE�"do your part, and respect the beliefs and opinions of others as you would want your own to be respected. This small act of self-control and respect for others will be more beneficial than you may believe.

But that’s just my opinion.

Think about it.

Sincerely,

Brad P.