Words Matter...

The time for "thoughts, prayers, next" is over.

If nothing else, the shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue has categorically reminded us that WORDS MATTER.

Words.

Matter.

The strength of this community and every other community across this nation will need to rely on fundamental truths that we have, somehow, lost.

Words matter.

Actions matter.

Words beget actions.

Actions have consequences.

Arming churches with guards is NOT the consequence that makes the most sense. Arming everyone else against an amorphous “them” – a bogeyman shape-shifter that changes with each layer of prejudice and xenophobia that’s uncovered by people in power spewing statements (on tape, provable) that incite hatred, violence, and terror, is also not the answer that most people with working brain cells and beating hearts would choose.

Arming ourselves with the ability to, once again and finally, reach across the growing divide and discuss meaningful change is what's called for.

And then having the courage to make the change, in spite of powerful forces that are not ultimately in our best interests as humans, but are driven by profit and greed, and which employs a mouthpiece whose quivering cowardice is covered up as bravado and ugliness of soul, manifesting in far too many people a shameful distrust of humans who "don't look like us." As a nation, we were once bigger than that. At least our ideals were, and we aspired to that.

We need to get back to -- or maybe move forward toward -- the ideal and the reality of a society in which diversity is celebrated and shared. Not feared and hated.