Kurt Cobain died 25 years ago, yet another person taken from us way too soon, and by a gun/suicide no less. One thing that’s often left out of the conversation when it comes to gun violence is the fact that 2/3 of gun deaths are suicides. It deeply upsets me that the only time that we ever hear the conversation around mental health and gun violence is about white mass shooters, rather than the victims of suicide/shootings or the people that survive. I’ve learned over the past year that most gun violence is rooted in (political, social, economic) injustices, which breed violence and mental health problems as a result of the pain they create. The only real solutions to truly solving and violence in the United States or anywhere for that matter, is addressing, these injustices. Communities should have equal political power no matter how rich or poor they are, no matter their zip code. Actual racial justice should be brought into our country and into our history. A history where the multiple horrific genocides America was founded on are actually addressed and taught in our history books. No peace will ever be reached in these United States unless less we include these injustices in our conversation around violence and constantly strive to achieve these goals for everyone. The only way that this will ever change is if we stand up, run for office, and vote against corruption and injustice. I don’t believe in voting for either political party, only morally just leaders that care about solving injustices and achieving peace. “The duty of youth is to challenge corruption” - Kurt Cobain
