If you live close to an International Rescue Committee office in the United States, find out how you can assist a refugee family as they transition to American life. Invite a newly arrived family to your home for a welcoming meal. Listen to their hopes and dreams, and share your own.

Only through loving and supporting one another, even in the face of unbearable pain and suffering, will this cycle of violence end.

We must build relationships, get to know one another's children, open our arms rather than close our hearts.

We must not allow the horrific actions of madmen to cut us off from our humanity.

I haven't a clue what's going to happen next, and I can't wait to find out.

If I have a tombstone when it's all over, it will say, 'He tried to connect.'

My favorite word was a word James Lapine used repeatedly in 'Sunday in the Park with George,' which was the word 'connect.' All I want to do is connect.

Refugees come to us seeking asylum, seeking freedom, justice and dignity - seeking a chance just to breathe. And people in our country are saying close the doors and don't let them in?

We need to learn to accept and certainly mourn any harm that comes to any human being on this earth. But we also need to not be vengeful.

Ted Cruz, who uses phrases like 'carpet-bombing' the people of ISIS and who said, after the incidents in Paris, that we need a war president, is using fear mongering and hate speech. As a citizen of the world, I'm very concerned that this kind of behavior is being cheered on by anyone. It only brings more pain and suffering.