Violence has become our new normal. We aren’t born violent, but innocent and color blind. Children do not know hatred or the difference between black and white. We teach them to hate and view others differently. We feel pain, love; we cry, laugh; we bleed red, regardless of our color. We must look at the heart of the person in front of us, not the color of their skin.

There are bad people of every race, religion and occupation. But there are also great people. Black people are not all bad; white people are not all racists; police officers are not all killers.

We cannot fix our past, but we can change our future. When we protest, we are not just making people aware of injustices; we fuel the flames of separation.

When we view each other as different we are all racists. When we can eliminate the feeling of superiority or persecution, entitlement or discrimination, we can then become one. We can then treat each other as we wish to be treated.

Parents need to take responsibility for the future of their children. Don’t teach them hatred or violence. Show them love and they will show others the same. Give back to your community instead of gunning it down. Show support to local police. Stop the violence. All lives matter.

Kathy Calkins

Stonington