What do we do tomorrow?
After hearing the news on 12/2/15 about the tragic, horrible, mass shooting in San Bernardino and the deaths of 14 innocent people, many more injured, their families now also victims, hearing about the situation from my siblings and frantically hoping that that they will be ok I ask: what do we do tomorrow?
SAN BERNARDINO, the city I grew up in, the city that is HOME, the city that I'm always trying to return to because of my family and friends. Today I see you plastered on the news and trending world wide and I am horrified, beyond belief, and quite frankly out of words.
I am upset and scared and angry all at the same time. When I heard about the news from my siblings, I didn't know how far away the shootings they were I didn't know if my parents were driving around in that area, I didn't know if the shootings had ceased or ongoing. That kind of agony is terrifying.
I am angry because my family is right there. I am angry because almost two months ago I watched shootings take place in Oregon and was shocked and felt for the community, but in a week the incident got buried in my mind. Then a few weeks ago another shooting in Paris, where I have lived right where incidents occur, shocked me but unfortunately that too got buried in my mind. And so many tragedies around the world reverberate in my mind and then fade, sadly, almost as quickly as they come.
But this time it is my home. This tragedy will not fade from my mind. And I am angry that it takes a tragedy literally hitting home to make me pay attention to what is happening. And all of this violence begs the question, what will happen tomorrow? What becomes of tomorrow?
I cry because I didn't know if my siblings and parents were in danger. I cry because my friends, my teachers, so many people were hurt and worried in my community.
I cry because I know people are looking for what to do next. I cry because I have memories and those streets. I cry because I never knew this would happen, not here. cry because I am priviliged to be miles away from the tragedy, but I hate that so many people I love were right there.
I cry because this will not be buried from my mind. I cry because this is no longer just a hashtags, and none of this violence should be JUST a hashtag to anyone, this is something happening in real time to MY community, my family. Damn it, I cry out. Enough is enough!
I see pain, my own fears, and I pray for San Bernardino. But not just for the safety of the city. I pray that we are not just another status. We are not just "another" one of the tragic shootings. I pray that we have a name. I pray the tragedies in San Bernardino, no just today, but those that have happened and continue to affect loved ones are remembered. And I pray for the loss and for the victims' families. I also pray for your communities, that the violence does not repeat itself and if it does, that you too will be remembered as a place with real families and real heartbreak and NOT just "another" shooting another name in the news people might forget a week from now. I pray that we can respond with love and compassion and not be quick to hate and point fingers. I pray for my home; I pray for the world.
And I have so much to be thankful for so much in this time. I am thankful for the teachers that kept my siblings safe at school. I am thankful my family and friends are safe. I am thankful the world is watching. I am thankful for the community leaders that have stepped up in this extremely hard time. And I thank goodness the community is coming together.
And I am thankfully that suddenly San Bernardino is given worldwide attention, maybe unwanted, sprung from violence, but here we finally have an opportunity to channel our anger, confusion, fears, frustrations, and compassion to turn a tragedy into a space for the world to finally LISTEN. San Bernardino has needed a voice for so long. So the question remains, what do we do tomorrow?
As for what do we do tomorrow? We continue to pray. And we don't forget, nor do we let the world forget us. We have to let the world see that we are more than this tragedy. It has ripped through our community but it will not tear us apart. We have to stand by one another. Because the hashtags will stop trending but the senseless violence and hate has not showed signs of slowing down. We don't let this pass without a discussion. We don't let this happen again. We owe it to our families, the victims and their families, and tomorrow. Tomorrow, we don't stop. We stay strong. #PrayforSanBernardino #SanBernardinoStrong #Love #StandUpSanBernardino
I chose these pictures because this is what San Bernardino is to me. These are my funny, happy, and memories of San Bernardino that I will not paint over with fear or hate or compromise. Because yes we have tragedy, and experienced some horrible times, now and in the past, but we are also a real community and that have proved multiple times that we will rise. So that is what is on the agenda for tomorrow. Because let me tell you we are more than this tragedy.
If we are a community that can get at 6:00 AM on Thanksgiving to exercise together, we damn well are a community that is capable of so much together.
This is the city that has shaped me into who I am today, educated me, and allowed me to embrace strength in more ways than one. And I am proud to say I am #SanBernardinoStrong.
