We are in the midst of revolution.

The world has turned the corner in a long-time battle for Equality. People are dying, families ripped apart from biased acts of terrorism, reactions, and revenge. Is this all necessary? Has it always been right under our nose and the veil is now slowly being pulled away, exposing right and wrong? Do we sacrifice lives: black lives, law enforcement, military, and our unfamiliar neighbors across the great salt pond? Is it all worth it? Maybe.

Revolution is revolt, a Latin term meaning “Turn Around.” Repent means the same, to turn away from sin. We are fighting righteous battles of morality.

Fundamental social change for equality is happening, now. It’s not a matter of if, but when social equality becomes reality or we fight and the winner prevails to rule a world full of love or full of hate.

Women vote, People with black skin ride in the front of the bus, homosexuals marry, medical marijuana is prescribed, Muslims pray, and walls of containment have literally fallen.

It’s different. Natural characteristics of the human race are uncomfortable with change. No, it’s not the norm – not what you’re used to. Not yet. We will progress or regress from here. This is why Revolution Equality is at climax.

An issue of this magnitude will not be still, we will move forward, backward, up, and down – each individual will make a decision to react or be proactive, to accept or deny, to open arms or protect individual belief. The collective population of our world will determine the next chapter.

My friends – black people, my Goddesses – women, my brothers sharing skin color like mine – white man, courageous gays, mindful Muslims, beautiful Buddhist, celebrating Hindi . . . the list goes on – good people – all of them, no matter judgement. People – more than skin deep and practicing beliefs. More than you and me. Coming together, for better or worse will determine our quality of life and the lives of future generations.

It seems so simple to choose good over evil. Ignorance is bliss and oblivious to everything else. It’s not that we must come together and prevail good over evil. It is what it is, and what will happen, will happen. It’s how we handle everything. Mindfulness of our own inner thoughts and feelings, what happens around us, and what we will do next. It’s how we love and accept others not in our immediate circles of beliefs and vanity.

A certain frame of mind, understanding our revolution is acceptance and all about the Golden Rule – “Treat others like you want to be treated.” Lack of tolerance is what we are fighting, “An eye for an eye.”

It wasn’t long ago, say 35 years, when I invited two of my best friends to swim at a local club pool. They were turned away because the color of their skin. My family dropped our membership. It was my first encounter with prejudice inequality.

We did not affect the club, they needed not our money. But it did affect my friends. Two young black males seeing a young white kid confused, and taking action to speak to his family and the family doing the right thing. No, we did not end bigotry, but we gained friends for life.

It’s society revolting against one another. Small pods of civil war and unrest around the world. So, choose a side and support good or support evil. It’s not religion, race, or ethnic boundaries. We are fighting a war on inequality, hate, and ignorance.

Most people I know stand beside me in my beliefs of acceptance. I’m realizing my own ignorance of assumption, something I work on every day – to not assume anything. I had no idea the number of people with such hate in their heart and soul, to the point of taking another’s life and their own. I’m not hurt, as much as feeling stupid for perceiving the world as a better place than it really is. Chapter 10 has begun and it will unfold quickly. Good luck world, I’m rooting on you to do the right thing. Peace. Love. Equality.

Charles Kochel fly-fishes, a lot. He also writes, bunches. He’s a terrible gardener, but seems to like it just the same.

Sometimes he can be found longboarding farmer’s markets or throwing disc amongst friends in open spaces. His dog, Prana, is named from Sanskrit meaning “life-force.”

He wishes he played mandolin better, but enjoys it just the same.