I have not watched television news or glanced at the endless dispatches on the Internet. I am in no mood to learn about sadness from suits and skirts who stare at teleprompters and recite the savage nature of human beings.

The lousy thing about being a human being is that we are very aware that humans do terrible things to each other. While we abhor the action – we’re keen to exhibit it. And talking heads sit back and discuss theories of prevention.

Being human actually offers the best remedy. We have a natural weapon. Each of us has the ability to recognize the love and kinship we have for each other. We should not be ashamed to show it or enrich it. We do this every day.

The hug from mom. The shoulder squeeze from dad. The light stroke of the hand by a loved one. The nod from a friend, that smile from your boss. We must continually do this to sustain the good. Make that the stronger instinct of being human. But that takes time. Most of us won’t be around when the human mind finally achieves it.

It is an awful struggle to reach that pinnacle of understanding. I am afraid more horrors such as Newtown will happen again — and the saddest part is that we all know it will.

We have to battle the horrors within ourselves and with our friends and family, as well with the guy next door and that girl with the green tattoo.

Eriks Petersons, Mechanic Falls