“When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace.” - Jimi Hendrix

I often begin my columns with words previously written by individuals I believe are extremely intelligent. Why? Because they poetically and powerfully expressed situations through firsthand experiences, producing words so eloquently. 

These authors, activists, musicians, poets and other artists full of awareness and requesting change, need to have their art rise again, opening the eyes of the general public.

Many of these writings are forgotten and buried underneath smart phones, TVs, computers, online streaming sites, social media, popular music, video games and many more distractions which seem to be creating a skewed viewpoint of cultural awareness, although some artists still push these ideals in hopes of creating change.

The voices who fearlessly cried out their passionate truths with thought-provoking power and emotion in their messages and wrote and sang beautiful artistic requests for peace and love, will continue to open the eyes of a brand new audience since their messages were originally expressed 50 to 60 years ago.

I believe their words will fill the hearts of my generation and bring acknowledgment to the important needs currently affecting our world. How absurd the insignificant, mind-numbing messages are easily accepted while shoved down our throats everywhere we look.

It’s said knowledge is power. Don’t be afraid to venture out of your comfort zone and open your mind to anything which may question your current beliefs. The only possible outcomes are holding steady to previous beliefs or lighting a small fire in your mind creating questions on what is truth.

There’s no shame in exploring what may be truth. It’s quite the opposite. Questioning what’s always been your belief takes courage. 

The issue I see here is how stubborn humans can be while lying and sinking into the concrete of beliefs we’ve been taught and desperately hold onto until no longer being able to move nor think for ourselves. 

Being stubborn is a natural human trait, and it’s hard to admit being wrong or changing opinions which have been held for a long time. I understand how hard it is to admit being wrong and changing the beliefs you’ve desperately clung to.

I’m learning to work on listening to other perspectives, doing my own research and continuously opening my mind to what others, whom I may not agree with, may state. 

One thing I’ll not allow to change inside of my mind and soul is the idea of love and trusting what my instincts tell me. Love is an aspect which will never be taken from me.As our country currently suffers from pain, anger, confusion and an unknown future, one thing remains the same. Love conquers all. 

Equality, nonviolent protests and artistic expressions can work to enforce the importance of love. We must now love all, in nondiscriminatory, peaceful and accepting ways.

Standard reporter Atlanta Northcutt can be reached at 473-2191.