Open Letter 9/11/2025

My mind cannot stop thinking of the horrific image of Charlie Kirk being publicly executed by a fellow civilian in Utah on September 10, 2025. I cannot unsee his body going limp and the blood oozing from his neck. I cannot stop thinking about his family witnessing that. I cannot stop thinking about the children of our nation opening TikTok and seeing the execution over and over—often coupled with political commentary. I am not going to spin this for any type of political point for my particular party because this feels bigger than that.

This event has inserted itself into a year that has been tense, confusing, and stressful for many citizens of our country. Several school shootings, drug overdoses, military involvement on the state level, ICE roaming and seeking whom they can apprehend, the stabbing in Charlotte, NC, the conversations and happenings in Chicago, and so many more things uncovered or captured by civilian media sources like phones and personal cameras—we are seeing it.

Online, it’s being discussed—of course with interference from bots and AI. We are aware, we are sharing, we are talking, we are meeting, but what else can we do?

Being involved in the political process is one thing, but I vouch for everyday citizens making the sacrifice to organize themselves and take action toward the things they need or want to see. This is not the time to be apathetic. This is not the time to stand back and watch the world burn. This is the time for those who are tired of seeing the collective spiritual and mental health of our country decaying before our eyes to step up, organize, and take action.

Apparently, anything goes these days, but that does not mean that I am advocating for immoral action. I heard the President say the other day something along the lines of: all that some people understand is brute force. All they understand is violence. I understand where he is coming from, but that is not the only language they understand.

They understand the language of spiritual uplift. They understand the language of chemicals—many use drugs to self-medicate already, so there is an understanding that something is going on and the drugs are helpful. We can change that so that they are getting legal medication to assist with mental health ailments.

But another language they understand is that the cost of taking care of themselves is too much. It involves too much of a time investment to wait for services. It is too much money to get services. There is a lack of education, so many do not understand what is out there, how it affects them, and what else they can do. Many understand all of those languages. Who can help change these conversations? We can.

When will we choose as a species to get along with one another and not just tolerate? When will we see ourselves in one another regardless of political affiliation, cultural context, and racial identity?

I know that it has been said that days like this have been prophesied. This apocalyptic spirit is all over us right now, as strong as it has ever been. Songs like “It’s the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)” are ringing in my head, even as I write this.

But it’s not the end of the world. We are experiencing a time of great distress, but we are a strong people. We are a tenacious people.

All of us are not addicted to personal gain only. Some of us are addicted to serving the greater good. Some of us are addicted to seeing our families and other families be healthy, happy, and provided for—given the avenue to pursue life and liberty to go with their health and happiness.

Let us all imagine the United States of America 2.0. This current version is good for a few, but terrible for many others, regardless of racial identity.

What would America 2.0 look like? Would it finally be the land of peace, prosperity, and liberty for all people? Would it be a place where citizens, despite differences, handle their grievances civilly? Would it be a place where the individual keeps their individual rights, but instead of being caught up in themselves and their own individual success, they sacrifice for the greater good of the country?

Some of that is happening now, true indeed, but in America 2.0, this approach is not the exception—it is the standard.

To all the children who are sitting back and watching: stop watching. Stop becoming desensitized to this madness. Easier said than done, but saying it is one step. Get in the game.

Work with the elders of the community. Work with one another. Have effective conversations and do more than protest. Organize. Vote. Make sure the people you want and trust are holding positions in your local elections—then think on the national level. But most of all, protect and take care of yourselves.

No one cares about you the way you and your trusted network of family and friends do. Be kind to all, so that we may be civilized when we speak to one another, courteous despite disagreements. It has to start somewhere.

Mike said it starts with the man in the mirror—it doesn’t matter if you’re Black, white, or any other identity.

As John Cena so famously says in his theme music, “Your time is up. My time is now.” I’d like to put it another way: Their time is up. Our time is now.

Who are they? The ones who peddle hate, division, and disorder. The devil’s kids, for lack of a better phrase—those who are of their father, the devil.

And who are we? Those who believe in and walk in righteousness, love, unity, respect, wisdom. Those who follow the ways of the merciful. Those committed to seeing better days—followers of Jesus Christ, essentially, but also those who may not be religious, or of different beliefs, but who are tired of their loved ones dying at the hands of violence, drug overdoses, corruption, and hatred.

I want to close this letter with verses from Jeremiah (chapter 30; verses 6-7) because I think they capture the spirit of the time in my heart:

“Now stop and think! Can a man give birth to a child? Why then do I see every man with his hands on his stomach like a woman in labor? Why is everyone so pale? A terrible day is coming; no other day can compare with it—a time of distress for my people, but they will survive.”

A time of distress...but [WE] will survive...