We want to take the energy surrounding the Sandy Hook anniversary

Host: The evening had drawn to a close, and the room was enveloped in a quiet warmth, the last light of the day slipping away. The world outside had quieted, the stillness of night settling over everything. Jeeny sat at the table, a soft expression on her face, her thoughts clearly focused on something deeper. Jack, standing by the window, stared out into the darkening sky, his arms crossed, deep in thought. The air between them felt heavy, as though a meaningful conversation was about to unfold.

Jeeny: (breaking the silence, her voice calm but filled with purpose) “I read something by Elizabeth Esty today that really struck me. She said, ‘We want to take the energy surrounding the Sandy Hook anniversary that might otherwise be consumed by grief or anger – or this week in San Bernardino by fear – and channel some of that to honor our common humanity and love each other.’ What do you think about that?”

Jack: (pauses, turning to face her, his voice thoughtful) “It’s a powerful sentiment, isn’t it? In the wake of tragedy, there’s often this feeling of rage, of fear, or of loss. It’s so easy to let that take over, to let those emotions consume us. But what she’s saying is that we have the choice to redirect that energy—to choose to use it in a way that honors our shared humanity, that leads us toward something more positive.”

Jeeny: (nodding slowly) “Exactly. It’s about channeling the emotion that arises from these terrible events into something constructive, something that brings us closer together, rather than tearing us apart. The natural response to grief, anger, or fear might be to isolate, to react with violence or hatred. But there’s another way, and that’s through love, compassion, and understanding.”

Host: The stillness in the room deepened, and the weight of Jeeny’s words seemed to settle over them. The night outside had fully taken hold, but inside, their conversation felt like it was shining a light on something profound. Jack stood still for a moment, absorbing the idea that in the face of tragedy, the choice to respond with love was just as real a choice as responding with hate or fear.

Jack: (his voice softer now, more reflective) “I think that’s the hardest part. When something tragic happens, it’s so easy to fall into anger, to look for someone or something to blame. But in the end, all that anger doesn’t bring us any closer to healing. It just keeps the wound open. Love is the only thing that can start the process of healing—not just for individuals, but for communities.”

Jeeny: (gently) “Yes. Love is an active choice, a decision to focus on our shared humanity rather than our divisions. It doesn’t mean we ignore the pain or the tragedy—it means we choose to honor the lives lost by working to connect with one another, by responding to hatred with kindness, to fear with courage. It’s about choosing a path that moves us toward unity, not separation.”

Jack: (nodding, his expression softer) “I think it’s about taking the energy of a difficult moment and transforming it. We can’t control the events themselves, but we can control how we respond. We can choose to make something positive out of something that could easily destroy us, both as individuals and as a society.”

Jeeny: (with a small smile) “Exactly. It’s a reminder that even in the darkest of times, we have the ability to decide how we react. We don’t have to let fear or grief define us. We can choose to rise above it, to bring out the best in ourselves and in others.”

Host: The quiet in the room deepened, the weight of the conversation settling like a soft, unspoken truth between them. The outside world had fallen completely silent, but inside, Jeeny and Jack sat in the understanding that in the face of tragedy, it’s not the event itself that defines us—it’s how we choose to respond, how we choose to honor the victims and their families by embracing our shared humanity and loving one another through the darkness.

Jack: (with a faint smile, his voice thoughtful) “I guess in the end, it’s about taking those moments of anger, fear, or grief, and turning them into something that brings people together, rather than pushing them apart. It’s about creating a ripple of love instead of a wave of hatred.”

Jeeny: (smiling warmly) “Yes, it’s about choosing connection over division. It’s about remembering that, no matter what happens, we’re all human, and we all deserve to be treated with love and respect.”

Host: The room felt calmer, the weight of their conversation settling into a peaceful understanding. Outside, the world had moved into the quiet of the night, but inside, Jeeny and Jack had shared something profound—a realization that in the face of the most difficult moments, we have the power to choose our response. We can choose to honor humanity through love, connection, and understanding, even in the darkest of times.