How many more of these insane events are we going to witness?
The Oak Ridge Wisconsin massacre at the Sikh Temple is another indicator of just how really disconnected we are as a people, as a society.
We all have free will to make choices--to do either evil, good.
We cannot occupy everyone's head at the same time and turn the gears one way or the other. It is the personal choice the individual makes that frames the event.
I don't believe these atrocities are on the upswing. I believe what we're experiencing is the beginning of a collective conscience, via technology, that is bringing all of us together through unfathomable acts of cruelty.
But doesn't it beg us to look deeper within and start the soul search of just who we are and where we are really going, as a species?
Are we human beings just some sort of ill-begotten litter that was dumped here, eons ago? Left to fend for ourselves, with nary a clue? Blindly stumbling along like backward, wayward savages solely bent on mass deprivation of our other human beings' rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness?
Or, are we, without our even knowing, slowly coming together through all these heart-wrenching events, in some sort of hidden way we don't understand?
All I know is we have scientists, psychologists, law enforcement officials, clergy, and other groups in this country who willingly work together in times like these. Many have high degrees but alas, they fell on their asses again. Why is it that we still have no clue why one person will willingly act out in the most brutal and malevolent way and least when we expect it?
We are quick to inform everyone that this guy was in the military (like that really makes a difference) or that this was a domestic terrorism act or the Southern Poverty Law Center is quick to point out that this nutter was part of a White Supremacist Group. This may or may not be true. We'll have to wait as the facts come out. But this is no time to turn this horrendous act into a political football, like some are so willing to do.
And the term hate crime. I have an issue with that. Whenever you turn your rage upon another and vent your anger whether it be beating someone to death, pointing a gun and firing that fatal shot, raping or using a kitchen knife, these are all acts of unimaginable savagery but I wouldn't necessarily coin them as being hate crimes. Quit categorizing and get on with fixing the problem, okay?
We've got a big problem here in this country and we better stop trying to make some sort of personal gain from it and start concentrating on how we can spot and stop this type of thing from happening again.
And, it is time to stop the hand-wringing.
We all live together and yet we do not: We have Hispanic communities, Muslim communities, Jewish communities, we have this borough and that borough, White communities, Black communities, Asian communities.
We all are ensconced in our own little worlds.
And yet we have the strong preying upon the weak. We have Black on Black crime that is off the chart; Black on White; White on Black; Black on Asian; and now White on Sikh.
When are we going to get it through our heads that we all live here? Many of us unsure of what to expect yet we came here with only one thought and that was to hopefully brighten our future, broaden our outlook, live free from fear.
And now someone with some deep, dark, hidden motive took all of that away from a group of people who only wanted to be left alone to experience a peaceful life in this country, free from exploitation and fear.
How dare he. How dare WE?
The Oak Ridge Wisconsin massacre at the Sikh Temple is another indicator of just how really disconnected we are as a people, as a society.
We all have free will to make choices--to do either evil, good.
We cannot occupy everyone's head at the same time and turn the gears one way or the other. It is the personal choice the individual makes that frames the event.
I don't believe these atrocities are on the upswing. I believe what we're experiencing is the beginning of a collective conscience, via technology, that is bringing all of us together through unfathomable acts of cruelty.
But doesn't it beg us to look deeper within and start the soul search of just who we are and where we are really going, as a species?
Are we human beings just some sort of ill-begotten litter that was dumped here, eons ago? Left to fend for ourselves, with nary a clue? Blindly stumbling along like backward, wayward savages solely bent on mass deprivation of our other human beings' rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness?
Or, are we, without our even knowing, slowly coming together through all these heart-wrenching events, in some sort of hidden way we don't understand?
All I know is we have scientists, psychologists, law enforcement officials, clergy, and other groups in this country who willingly work together in times like these. Many have high degrees but alas, they fell on their asses again. Why is it that we still have no clue why one person will willingly act out in the most brutal and malevolent way and least when we expect it?
We are quick to inform everyone that this guy was in the military (like that really makes a difference) or that this was a domestic terrorism act or the Southern Poverty Law Center is quick to point out that this nutter was part of a White Supremacist Group. This may or may not be true. We'll have to wait as the facts come out. But this is no time to turn this horrendous act into a political football, like some are so willing to do.
And the term hate crime. I have an issue with that. Whenever you turn your rage upon another and vent your anger whether it be beating someone to death, pointing a gun and firing that fatal shot, raping or using a kitchen knife, these are all acts of unimaginable savagery but I wouldn't necessarily coin them as being hate crimes. Quit categorizing and get on with fixing the problem, okay?
We've got a big problem here in this country and we better stop trying to make some sort of personal gain from it and start concentrating on how we can spot and stop this type of thing from happening again.
And, it is time to stop the hand-wringing.
We all live together and yet we do not: We have Hispanic communities, Muslim communities, Jewish communities, we have this borough and that borough, White communities, Black communities, Asian communities.
We all are ensconced in our own little worlds.
And yet we have the strong preying upon the weak. We have Black on Black crime that is off the chart; Black on White; White on Black; Black on Asian; and now White on Sikh.
When are we going to get it through our heads that we all live here? Many of us unsure of what to expect yet we came here with only one thought and that was to hopefully brighten our future, broaden our outlook, live free from fear.
And now someone with some deep, dark, hidden motive took all of that away from a group of people who only wanted to be left alone to experience a peaceful life in this country, free from exploitation and fear.
How dare he. How dare WE?
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