Love Can Conquer Anything

I write fantasy romances set on imaginary worlds where love overcomes. I write of people and worlds who do everything to prevent war, who accept loving who you love as the norm. Why? Because somehow, someway, I hope what I write will influence those who read my stories and it will change my own world into a loving, tolerant, accepting society where religion does not dictate death simply because you don't understand what true love is.

Having come from a Christian background, I do understand how words can be twisted into whatever you want them to say. I understand how caught up in sermon you can be that you'll believe anything that comes out of a religious leader's mouth, even hate. Which is why I, ultimately, walked away from religion completely. My belief system is now based on reverence. Reverence for life in all it's form. I do my best to steer my life onto a positive path, to find the good.

Which is why I hurt so much when I hear of atrocities committed in the name of religion. There is no single religion or faith to blame for the hate that fills our world - they're all a part of it. When a cleric stands before a group of people and preaches intolerance or insists that every person must be brought to their way of thinking, they are as much a contributor to what happened in Paris as those who perpetrated the crime.

If you believe an enlightened being wants you to kill others in his name in order to gain your glory in the afterlife, you are a fool. If you blindly follow such beliefs, then I highly doubt you have seriously read the book upon which your belief system is supposed to be based.

Love doesn't care who you are, how much you have, where you live, what you believe is right or wrong. Love just is. Love accepts. Love gives without expecting anything in return. Love understands. Love is the most powerful emotion there is because it can overcome hate.

Many people around the world stand in solidarity with France. We weep with them; we hurt with them; we grieve with them. And we ask for peace. We ask that hatred be answered with love. What better city to do so than Paris. A city of love.

Yes, I am a romantic. After half a century of living, I still believe that love can conquer anything.