My thoughts and prayers go out to Las Vegas
Loren Mack
Senior Vice President Corporate Communications at Professional Fighters League
For what is a small, close-knit community of happy, loving people, Las Vegas has always been symbolic of big things. With its world-class entertainers, bright neon lights and stretches of luxury resorts, Las Vegas is known famously as the entertainment capital of the world.
A tragedy struck yesterday the likes of which we as a people have never seen before, and the city that I hold dear to my heart is now shrouded in grief because of a single act of pure evil that has claimed the lives of over 50 people, injuring over 500 others.
I woke up early this morning and my phone absolutely blew up. Social media was abuzz in the worst kind of way. This incident, which I condemn in every single way, has truly shaken me to the core. Because although I live thousands of miles away in Asia, I always think fondly of Las Vegas as my home.
As a young student building the foundation of his dreams at the prestigious UNLV, Las Vegas opened my eyes to a world of possibilities. During my time involved in the community, I had many opportunities to discover the very heart of Las Vegas, from dealing with community projects, to interacting with so many wonderful people. Las Vegas has played a key role in my growth, not only as a working professional, but also as a human being.
I truly believe Las Vegas is one of the greatest American cities which defines the core values of the nation that I love. Unwavering hope, non-stop excitement, complete freedom, and dreams as big as the imagination, this is what the United States of America -- and what Las Vegas is all about.
I have no doubt that, as a city built on aspiration, and a country with unbreakable resolve, that we shall once again rise above. This has been a difficult episode for all of us, but time and again we have proven resilient in every way. Together, we can get through this.
My prayers and thoughts go out to the families who are at the center of this awful tragedy, and all their loved ones showing support from afar. Remember that you are not alone in these difficult times. We are with you.