I didn't know Michael Brown, but I did in a way. I grew up with "Michael Brown" - a lot of us white guys did, playing sports, and we got to know Michael Brown.
I love Michael Brown because I loved my friends who I played sports with growing up. And, I look at some of their lives now and see some who could be Michael Brown.
We have to be honest about our history, our present and our future.
And I suggest searching your heart and finding a place within it for Michael Brown.
The tragedy of African Americans living in America is just that - a tragedy. It seems there is nothing, nothing at all that can break the spell too many Americans are under that prevents them from seeing the truth of the African American community.
From the beginning, African Americans were unwelcome in this country and they remain unwelcome today.
There is no other way to see it.
Yes, steps have been made over the years, real progress has been made, but after what we have seen in St. Louis and so many other communities - African Americans are truly still second class citizens.
The simple answer to that hard truth is - it is not right. So, let's make it right.
The way forward is through love - love is a salve against hate, bitterness and deep anger, that can tip into rage, despair, depression. Love commands that you respect the idea that there is hope and there is a chance to have good come from tragedy.
Choosing to love, demands you love everyone in this process - those who are being killed and those doing the killing. There is a bug in the system of policing in this country and it simply needs to be fixed, so that all sides can be better for it.
I am feeling similar feelings that I had after the tragedy in Newtown ... senseless violence in our communities happening to people that could be me and my family and friends, violence that keeps repeating again and again in the same tragic way.
Newtown was a final straw. Michael Brown is a final straw - change must happen.
After Newtown, I stashed a piece of those 26 in my heart and carry it with me to this day, trying to reform our gun laws in order to help prevent the gun violence they enable.
Stash a piece of Michael Brown in your heart and carry it with you to demand change by honoring his memory and the memories of so many like him, by not giving up, ever.
Love in your heart is the best energy and motivation to carry you on a long, tough struggle to make the necessary reforms in order to prevent another Michael Brown from losing his or her life.
Not one more.