According to UN data, 347 million people are living in America right now. How many of them do you imagine are (truly, deeply, right down to their bones) “full of hate?”

Whether conservative or liberal (or any other political stripe), let’s admit it’s a teeny, tiny percentage.

How many of these toxic humans do you suppose are actively scheming how they might go about murdering people with whom they disagree?

No doubt, an even teenier, tinier fraction.

But it’s enough.

Enough to make us justifiably paranoid these days about attending political events, parades with views outside the mainstream, or even something as neutral as fireworks displays.

It’s enough to make parents agonize about sending their children to school.

It’s a profound shame, wouldn’t you agree?

Anyone who believes murder is a legitimate tool for shaping society is a lunatic. Anyone making jokes about, or trying to justify ideologically, the assassination of anyone (Republican, Democrat, or Friday Night Bowler) has become severed not just from reason but from their humanity.

Murder is unequivocally wrong. That shouldn’t be a controversial statement.

I want to live in a world where there is “liberty and justice” FOR ALL. I think most Americans do. Figuring out how to arrive at that … will require reason and compromise. Not toxic rhetoric. This kind of judicious give-and-take is what politicians are paid to do. It’s what ordinary citizens ought to strive for as well.

I might strongly disagree with your views on the best ways to handle immigration, tax structure, gun laws, social safety nets for the struggling, healthcare … and a hundred other economic, social, political, and moral issues that face our country and our world.

But I assure you, I am not at war with you. I assure you, I don’t hate you or wish you harm.

I don’t assume you hate people outside your race or religion. I don’t assume all of your opinions line up with the most radical in your “tribe.”

Saying “we’re at war” (conservatives vs liberals) is not just inaccurate, it’s incredibly irresponsible.

Half the country doesn’t want the other half to die. They just don’t. So, let’s stop with that foolish talk right now.

It’s okay if we go ahead and regularly cancel each other’s votes, but let’s be very careful when it comes to canceling each other‘s rights.

If we’re going to preserve individual freedom, we must continue to cherish and protect our rights to speak, believe, live, and love as we wish—without fear of being silenced—either by government decree or violence.

I have deep love (right down to the bone) for many people with whom I disagree about important matters.

For the most part, we can talk about our disagreements civilly, then we can let it all go and get on with the business of caring about each other and finding common ground. Finding and celebrating our common humanity.

If we completely lose the ability to do this in our country (both as politicians and as everyday civilians), we are … well … we are lost, indeed.

I grieve where we are now. I especially grieve where I see us heading if cooler heads do not prevail.