The lead stories we cover here at SHOUT are all important and we work on these issues because we feel very strongly about them. More importantly, we strive to talk about them when we feel that the time is right. Some cover stories, however, are important to talk about no matter what time of the year it is. These subject matters are relevant all the time and this week's cover story is one of them.

But I worry whether or not any kind of progress really does come out of our effort. I worry because of the kind of things I see and read. It feels as though we are regressing, stripping ourselves bare of empathy, and sliding back into a place that doesn't feel safe. If we keep retracting our steps, then can we even expect to be having discussions of progress? And if we cannot even begin to fathom having discussions about progress, then we will continue to encroach further towards a world plagued by apathy and vilification. Unfortunately, the world is already incredibly distressing.