Letter to the Editor: Seattle Times

This is in response to Sue Rahr's article.


I was raised by a father that taught me to follow in the footsteps of Siddhartha. Helping others, he would say, is the key to a fulfilling life. You should never stop.

After reading Rahr's op-ed, I am still mulling over the last line in her article: It's a comforting and empowering reminder that we are truly in this together.

Considering the recent tragedies that have struck police officers and law enforcers in Washington state within the last few months--for most people, egoism would kick in, and they would say, "we are most certainly not in this together!" It's the Darwin in all of us; survival of the fittest. Or rather, stay away from a group that is clearly being targeted.

Its been proven that in a crisis or tragedy, people unite--Rahr proves this by explaining the outpouring from the community. She also compares all these tragedies to post 9-11: the American flags, the cookies, the waterfall of constant support.

But while these men and women are responding to our 911 calls, who is making sure that they are being safe?

After the initial shell-shock phase is over, acceptance begins and eventually people gloss it over as another horrifying incident in their minds. The American flags stop waving, cookies are reserved for Netflix movie nights, and the support disappears. Where does the support go? Are we really in this together? Or are we only in this together for right now?

Safety is everyone's responsibility. If you are of sound mind and body, you hold the responsibility to make sure that your neighbor or the stranger down the street is okay.

Rahr is conveying her thanks and enormous gratitude that the community has shown. I was touched by her letter, but I am also hoping that the support never stops; that those thank-yous and flags never stop coming and waving. That we always know innately that it is our responsibility as well to make sure that safety is both a duty and a human obligation.