Is anything new? Since the dawn of time, people have hurt others. Sometimes (as in war) we believe it's justified. Other times, as in mass killings of innocents, we are mystified. But I can't stand the hate. First thing on my list, was the libertarians suggesting that at the least this will be used to ban guns, at the most, it was orchestrated by the government to ban guns. Do they really think their assault rifles are strong enough to protect them if the government comes knocking?
Then we look at the killer. What was wrong with him? I have heard mental illness and autism used interchangeably in this case, which literally makes me sick. Our society is not only remarkably violent, we are also extremely ignorant.
I have heard people blame the mother. She shouldn't have taught him to shoot (really? Why don't you not teach YOUR kids to shoot and not worry about other people's kids). This is especially funny coming from the right wing gun lovers. And I have heard she should have kept her guns locked up. Do you really think any amount of keys and combinations would keep him from the guns at that point? Do you think an adult mother could hold off her grown son?
We hate the killer. Of course. At Columbine, one could almost understand. No, it was horrible and evil, but bullied children are hurt terribly. And teachers cannot protect kids from bullying. No tolerance helps, but many teachers were on the "upside" of social life, and they don't understand the pain. But there is absolutely no way to justify going somewhere you haven't been in years to kill people who are incapable of doing harm to you. But when people start calling other people "losers", I can't help but feel a little sympathy. When the man shot up the movie theatre, he was described a loser and someone who couldn't make it in his profession (there are NOT ENOUGH jobs, even for people with technical/science degrees-don't believe the hype). And then someone described this person as a loser. And I wonder about all those on the edge. The boys who cry themselves to sleep because their "scrawny ass" as one person described this young man, got shoved around in the locker. What does it feel like to be 20 and realize you are no closer to persuading a girl to have sex with you, than you were at 10?
But I guarantee there are young men out there who identify with this man, and neither exalting nor denigrating him is going to make them healthier.
Of course, I think he is where he should be (I believe he is weeping at God's feet now for the horror he's inflicted-I believe we create our own Hell, once our eyes are opened).
There is no answer. We are animals, bent on raising up our own, and securing their way in life. Make fun of skinny Bobby in the corner? Maybe that'll keep him from being competition for that high paying job. Turn your nose up at the poor kid's family, rather than teaching your child to open up and befriend others. Maybe that will keep her from having the self-esteem to compete for boys and scholarships. I don't know. I may be wrong. But being mean is never right.
Holy Crap! I completely overlooked the religious nuts who think that praying in schools would solve this. Really? Why don't you look up violence and shooting in churches? These are the same people who insist that kids aren't allowed to pray in school (they are). Being Christian does not you have to be dishonest or spread untruths. In fact, it actually probably means you shouldn't. I want to believe in God. I want to believe in everlasting life. Why do people mix religion and politics and make it so darned hard?
Then we look at the killer. What was wrong with him? I have heard mental illness and autism used interchangeably in this case, which literally makes me sick. Our society is not only remarkably violent, we are also extremely ignorant.
I have heard people blame the mother. She shouldn't have taught him to shoot (really? Why don't you not teach YOUR kids to shoot and not worry about other people's kids). This is especially funny coming from the right wing gun lovers. And I have heard she should have kept her guns locked up. Do you really think any amount of keys and combinations would keep him from the guns at that point? Do you think an adult mother could hold off her grown son?
We hate the killer. Of course. At Columbine, one could almost understand. No, it was horrible and evil, but bullied children are hurt terribly. And teachers cannot protect kids from bullying. No tolerance helps, but many teachers were on the "upside" of social life, and they don't understand the pain. But there is absolutely no way to justify going somewhere you haven't been in years to kill people who are incapable of doing harm to you. But when people start calling other people "losers", I can't help but feel a little sympathy. When the man shot up the movie theatre, he was described a loser and someone who couldn't make it in his profession (there are NOT ENOUGH jobs, even for people with technical/science degrees-don't believe the hype). And then someone described this person as a loser. And I wonder about all those on the edge. The boys who cry themselves to sleep because their "scrawny ass" as one person described this young man, got shoved around in the locker. What does it feel like to be 20 and realize you are no closer to persuading a girl to have sex with you, than you were at 10?
But I guarantee there are young men out there who identify with this man, and neither exalting nor denigrating him is going to make them healthier.
Of course, I think he is where he should be (I believe he is weeping at God's feet now for the horror he's inflicted-I believe we create our own Hell, once our eyes are opened).
There is no answer. We are animals, bent on raising up our own, and securing their way in life. Make fun of skinny Bobby in the corner? Maybe that'll keep him from being competition for that high paying job. Turn your nose up at the poor kid's family, rather than teaching your child to open up and befriend others. Maybe that will keep her from having the self-esteem to compete for boys and scholarships. I don't know. I may be wrong. But being mean is never right.
Holy Crap! I completely overlooked the religious nuts who think that praying in schools would solve this. Really? Why don't you look up violence and shooting in churches? These are the same people who insist that kids aren't allowed to pray in school (they are). Being Christian does not you have to be dishonest or spread untruths. In fact, it actually probably means you shouldn't. I want to believe in God. I want to believe in everlasting life. Why do people mix religion and politics and make it so darned hard?
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