First off, I apologize that this is a little out of order.  Richard will get back to our fun posts soon.

To say Friday, the 13^th was a bleak day for the world would be an understatement.  It’s hard to keep up with what’s going on in the world when we are in our own little bubble. I am extremely saddened by what has happened in Beirut, Baghdad and Paris, and what continues to happen in Syria.  While traveling we can’t guarantee our own safety, all we can do is be aware of where there is conflict and where we should and shouldn’t go.  Tragedy strikes at any given moment.  We can’t control it.

A few days ago I read an excerpt from a speech given by the genius Alejandro Gonzales Inarritu in, the following excerpt has stuck with me:  “I would rather propose to call these people Undocumented Dreamers, as were most of the people who founded this country. By naming them that, we can instead start a real and human conversation for a solution, with the most precious, forgotten, and distinguished emotion a human being can have: Compassion.”

Compassion is a word I think we forget.  When tragedy strikes, the majority of the people involved will show their compassion.  After reading about Paris all morning long and then finding out about Baghdad and Beirut I wondered, why was there not the equal amount of coverage for this?  Where was the compassion for our fellow human beings in the Middle East?  Where’s the compassion when calling for tougher gun legislation after another senseless gun massacre (which I would venture to say that is domestic terrorism).  Anyone who tries to instill fear in you by using force is an act of terrorism. Where was the compassion when thousands of kids were escaping the violence in Central America coming to the US and we turned them away saying “Not our kids, not our problem?”

I propose we start practicing our compassion and we start practicing our humanity.  Empathize with others, try to understand their plight, their history, and their sorrows.  If we continue to break each other down and we continue to lose sight of our humanity, they win.  Perhaps it’s my sappiness or my optimism but I firmly believe that love conquers all but lately that has faltered as I see the hate that has been demonstrated this year.  I will continue to work at being a better human being, at being more compassionate, at understanding that exposing oneself to  that which is different and as a result enriches you as a person.

Extremism, in any form is dangerous.