It has been a rough couple months for the state of Iowa.

On July 18th University of Iowa student Mollie Tibbetts went missing while she was out jogging. Over a month later the body of the Brooklyn, Iowa resident was found in a cornfield.

On Monday Celia Barquin Arozamena, a former Iowa State University women’s golfer, was found dead on a golf course in Ames. Police were called when golfers found a golf bag with nobody around it on the course. Arozamena was a former Big 12 champion and last years Iowa State female athlete of the year.

Tibbetts was kidnapped and killed when she turned a 24 year-old illegal immigrant male down on her jog. Arozamena was killed by a 22 year-old homeless male. Mollie should have been able to go jogging without the fear of being attacked. Celia should have been able to go golfing without the fear of being attacked. Activities that should be safe have become something people second guess if they should do alone.

In a usually bitter rivalry between Iowa and Iowa State, these losses have brought the state of Iowa together. Arozamena is a native of Spain, but when you come to Iowa you become part of the culture. Fans of both teams along with everyone in the state and country sent out their support.

I always see people on Twitter telling girls to be safe or bring protection if they go out. Or even that they should dress different and bad things won’t happen. These acts of violence are not on women, they are on men. A sad fact of life is a lot of men in this world are taught from a young age to not see women as equals. They think they can do what they want to women and get away with it. That is when you get these senseless acts of violence and so many other examples in the United States and around the world. We as men need to change the way we think and the way we live.

We need to teach the next generation of boys we are not better than any sex or any race for that matter. But we can not just teach the younger generation and wait for them to do something. We need a systematic change in the United States.

It needs to start from the very top, but unfortunately we have a leader who has been accused of his own crimes against women. And someone who wants to divide us as a country instead of bringing America together.

President Donald Trump tried to politicise Tibbetts murder, because it was committed by an illegal immigrant and helps his agenda. Tibbetts family immediately denounced Trump’s attempts to politise the loss of their loved one. As of writing Trump has said nothing of the murder of Arozamena, a native of spain, by a white male.

Both crimes were committed by males around the same age and in the same sort of fashion, but one was white and the other was hispanic.

One detail to make it important and useful for Trump and others. While the other goes unmentioned.

Even if the leader of America won’t mention it if it doesn’t help him, the amount of love and support that came from all over the United States for both Iowa women was heartwarming. During the month long search for Mollie Tibbetts, all over the country, thoughts and love came in for her and her family. Hundreds of tips came into authorities trying to help find her.

Since Monday again the country poured in love for Celia Barquin Arozamena. Probably most notably fellow Spaniard and golfer Sergio Garcia tweeted out his thoughts and prayers for her family.

Both of these women had bright futures taken away from them way too soon. This world is a messed up place and we need everyone to come together to get through it. I feel like I have had to say this in every column I’ve written, but the world needs love and compassion for your fellow human.