I woke up and the world has changed. Yesterday's bad dream is now reality. This is why I came here.

I open my eyes and I find myself surrounded by the enemy. In the desert, there are more of them than I can count. I look around. I see their faces. Their eyes tell stories. They are all different.

Many seem uncertain, maybe unconvinced, maybe scared. Some look angry, but there's more to it I don't see.

A few, who think they know me, hate me. I'll make sure death finds them first. I will kill them first.

They disrespect my beliefs. They seek to destroy my family. They want to desecrate my land. Today, they all stand against me. I will spare no one. I will kill them all. I'm ready.

I take out my sword. The blade is an extension of me: soul, body, mind, and spirit. It is the source of my power. Today is mine. 

My heart quickens. I run toward the danger. I start slashing and it all turns into a Tarantino movie. I am a surgeon amputating limbs. Separating heads from bodies, my breathing calms. Blood spraying everywhere, I'm covered in it. So much blood and I cherish it.

The more blood I see, the more thirsty for it I become. I taste it. Incited, I now run toward the hesitant ones. They dare to stand against me! I don't know why they're here. Did someone force them? I don't care. They are the enemy. I kill every last one of them.

They're all dead. I wipe the blood from my face. 

It's always been like this. The two factions have been at each others throats for millennia. They believe in the darkness. My people follow light. They're too different. There's no reasoning with them. They hate me, so I hate them. They killed my brethren, so I killed them.

I was strong this time. Next time I won't be as fast and powerful. But if I fall, my children will avenge me and restore natural order to things.

Kill or be killed. Power transferred. That is the way things go down in the 47th Century... 

This is the dark, twisted, and disturbing Mad Max type dystopian future I see when I let my mind wonder. But, it is only one version of it. There are other, imperfect but more hopeful alternative endings to this mental picture too. They're less disturbing.

We are at a crossroads now. What do we believe?  Whom do we follow? Which way do we go? 

If you are reading this, chances are good that you are an educator. You and I both. Our job is to educate. Lead conversations. Challenge beliefs. Put home rhetoric on trial if it harms others. Create safe spaces. Forge new understandings and a brighter future.

This is how we fight. We give students weapons to create with before they learn to wield weapons that kill. We educate. Swords can wait.

It will be difficult and uncomfortable. It's urgent, but progress won't seem fast enough.

We do it nonetheless. We must. Together. Now. 

What was hidden is out in the open now. This is a major turning point. But this is not the crossroads separating utopia and dystopia.

Look within: Which way is progress? Then head that way and don't look back.

Disturb the sound of silence. Ask not nor wait for permission. Take the first step. Lead. Others will follow.