I’ve struggled to put to words the innumerable thoughts on events of not only the past week but the past decades in the United States. I have little to add in an Instagram post that hasn’t been said in social media. And honestly, the push to be vocal on social media has proven to me more of an irritation than an encouragement because the conversation and societal shift that needs to occur won’t be addressed or even barely touched upon by our “insta support.” This conversation requires the irreplaceable traditions of philosophy, faith, and history, not to mention the virtues of decency, charity, love, and generosity (among others). For black lives to truly be valued and for peace to overcome our nation, we must be a people whose spirit can balance our reason and our appetites. And I fear that we might no longer be capable of such a calling. #blackouttuesday