I learned that 32 people can be killed in the course of several hours and no one in this country really gives a damn. Don't mistake the voyeuristic media coverage for actual concern. Yes, people are upset by what happened and their hearts go out to the students and staff at Virginia Tech, but few people are talking about what's really important about this massacre: that we live in a culture where this kind of thing can happen anywhere at any time to anyone.
Isn't that just a little disturbing? Forget about all the political crap that goes along with this tragedy. Forget what the kid said on the videotapes that the media has so insensitively aired on national TV. Forget about the debate on the 2nd Amendment and the people's right to have guns (even though we don't have the right to decide what do do with our own bodies, we have what we need to decide what to do with the lives of others). Forget that he's an Asian kid from Virginia and has probably been the victim of horrible racism since he came to this country (trust me, I've lived in VA). Sure, he had mental problems. How many people are there across this country with some sort of mental illness? How many of them have access to guns? How many of them have motive, real or imagined, AND opportunity?
This tragedy is a symptom of the violent culture of America, as were about a hundred other SCHOOL shootings in the past 10 years (not including Lancaster or VT). We live in a country where we cannot say with reasonable certainty that our children are safe in school. How do people not find this alarming? How are people not rioting in the streets? This tragedy has illustrated beyond a reasonable doubt that gun violence is OUT OF CONTROL in the United States and the only people truly outraged DON'T LIVE IN AMERICA. More children are going to die. If we don't do something now, we might as well get used to seeing higher and higher numbers of casualties in tragedies such as this, tragedies that could have been prevented.
And let's not forget the other victims of gun violence:
3,315 US Soldeirs killed in Iraq
24,764 US Soldiers wounded in Iraq
Over 60,000 Iraqis killed
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18 comments:
As long as our culture glorifies violence as a meand to problem solving, this will continue. That is sad.
I also think, as I've said other places as well, that it's our selfish strain of individualism that propels people into this kind of mentality. What he says on those tapes is profound. He had no social net. No one reached out to him. Yes, he had a malformed sense of rejection, but on a very basic level he simply lacked the ability to connect with people.
We live in a consumerist, selfish, and individualist society that teaches us the glory of "me" to the detriment of "us". We're no longer able to communicate with others, to connect with them. The violent culture exacerbates this because not only do we lack the empathy to care about one another, we're also desensitized to human suffering. It's a very dangerous combination.
I don't know that people didn't try to reach out to him, though. There are some people who are just plain scary, but I'm sure he wasn't always that way. Something made him the way he is. If it's not some sort of severe mental illness than it's something inherent within our culture - like the kids at Columbine. Their response to being bullied was gun violence. Why would they immediately turn there. counselors were available. Teachers saw tem every day. Were they able to act normally while the were planning the whole thing because it really didn't seem like a big deal to them? Did they feel justified in their actions because of the glorification of revenge, both in the movies and the media?
"If we don't do something now, we might as well get used to seeing higher and higher numbers of casualties in tragedies such as this, tragedies that could have been prevented."
Please tell us what you think we should do. Besides "rioting in the streets" since that is a form of violence and I would expect that you don't really condone that.
AQ,
I said tha I'm surprised that people aren't rioting in the streets, not that they should. If you live in Ameirca and don't know what to do to make changes, you're in a worse position than I thought. Besides talking to your representatives about the repeal of the Brady bill and how it quite possile helped cause this massacre - and I mean talking to them, not writing a letter - there are a lot of things you could do, unless of course, you're too lazy and complacent like the rest of America. Wen people talk about this tragedy, steer the discussion toward the violent culture we live in, the ease with which people can gain weapons, etc... Join protest such as the one in DC on May 14th, get involved in groups that advocate better gun control laws. Don't just sit on your ass and complain that somethign like this happened. Do your fucking best to make sure it doesn't happen again.
What Laura said. Democracy Now had a rerun of the interview with Michael Moore when his movie Bowling for Columbine came out and he said basically the same thing. That Canada has the attitude of a society in which all the citizens are in this together and America preached rugged individualism and pull yourself up by your own bootstrap. Thought it interesting.
I was afraid you might propose something like that. But I disagree. I don't think gun control would answer this problem. I don't like guns and don't own a gun. I would like to see more gun restrictions. But complete gun control would only prevent law abiding citizens from having them. This shooter got his gun legally, but most violent criminals do not.
I agree more with what Laura said. But I don't know what we could do to change society's mentality.
As a writer, I'm sure you are familiar with tone. Did you intend to respond to me in that nasty accusatory tone? You don't know me or how I contribute to society! Wow!
The longer we stay here, the more we realize that we should be leaving. My parents have been arguing the "grass isn't greener" for years now, but they can't argue gun control or the things that are just so inherent in our culture that they will never change. It's a new century. Forget rugged individualism or you're not going to make it.
AQ,
Always the general you, not the specific when it comes to political action. No, gun control won't solve the problem, but it will help. Doing something to change the violent culture we live in will go a long way, but it's difficult to do. Protest violent movies, don't allow your kids to see them - I'm sure you don't - etc. The point is that there are lots of political actions people can take for any issue they want to be involved in, they just choose not to or think other things are more important. The culture in which you raise your family is just as important as the family you're raising. Children can't be shielded from everything, and parents shouldn't have to keep them away from the majority of the culture they live in.
Actually, I just finished reading a journal article on the causes of terrorism and I found a few things poignant to this discussion:
1) a warped sense of persecution: the sense that no matter what you do, they're out to get you. Now this applied in the article to organizations, but can easily be applied to an individaul, like say Tim McVeigh
2) a perception that legal means of recourse are either ineffective, skewed against you to begin with, not available to you, or are too slow to bring results.
3) Justification of your actions as morally acceptable because of 1 & 2.
4) Isolation from the social order. Terrorist groups insulate themselves from society due to their clandestine nature - and therefore are insulated from other explanations and solutions and worldviews to the point where their point of view becomes the only valid one. The "others" become the "enemy" and thus justifiable targets. This could easily apply to an individual who feels perpetually isolated from other people.
I think these things really apply to these types of incidents as well. Dylan and Eric displayed all these traits too. I think it points to a need to stop the factionalization of our society (red/blue, lib/cons, Dem/Rep) and start working together to find common ground. The more you see in common with those who disagree with you, the more likely you are to be able to hear what they have to say and accept their views as valid.
What you are wanting, UWL, is a grass roots movement of change in people's hearts. I have a number of questions;
1. Why does it matter? We all have short span to live on this orb, and then we die. What's the use of trying and sacrificing when all it may lead to is a short life?
2. How do you suppose that this groundswell of change will occur? People will do what they want, when they want to to best suit their own needs and wants. If it hurts someone else, that's their problem. To make the changes you are looking for requires all of us to care for the other man as much, if not more than ourselves. It will require sacrifice. Does mankind have it in them?
All in all, what is rumbling around in your mind is very laudable. Now, what do we do with these desires?
Here is where I say, we need to have life's deepest questions answered by the Christian faith. And if the struggle that you have been enduring for the past three decades hasn't worked for you, try something else. Why not try that which you have villified? Try Jesus Christ, and I mean the real deal. Not this reconstituted wierd crap you constantly run into. True authentic Catholic Christianity...
It won't hurt, but it will cause you to face yourself in the mirror like it did me. There is a cost, but the rewards are out of this world.
Laura,
I think you're right. Tbose points are interesting. The problem is tha more and more people are beginning to fit into those qualifications, and many of them have guns.
UL,
My initial reaction was to be offended by the suggestion that all I need is a little Jesus, but I actually, I agree with you - not the conversion part, but the "words to live by" part. Many of the world's problems CAN be solved by following the words of Jesu bin Josef, which is why I am in a daily struggle to try to live by them, as well as the words of the Dali Lama, Ghandi, Confucious, and other philosophers who lead a life of peace, charity, and love. I am working on starting my own non-profit orgaganization to try to better live by their example - you know, be the change you want to see in the world, and all that.
1) It matters because my son will live in this world. I want to make any improvements that I can so that he will have a healthy, happy, and USEFUL life. I want him to grow up in a country where violence is not commonplace. I want him to be able to stroll along a non-eroded beach and put honey in his tea (assuming the cell phones haven't killed all the bees by then). I want my world to be less tragic. I want to make life better for other people, especially those who have an extremely difficult time making life better for themselves. It matters because we CAN live better, and we can do it without killing everything around us. If my life is shortened because I have spent it improving the lives of others, so be it. At least I haven't sat idley by and watched the world go to shit, all the while becoming more depressed that I have children who will live in this hell hole.
2) One guy. That's how change will occur. With one guy. Just like it did with Jesus. Just like it did with Ghandi. Maybe in the future Al Gore will be considered that guy, but he won't. We need a prophet. We need someone who can tie in all the major religions to induce social and environmental change, and with the Internet, we have the communication system available to do so. Remind people that we are all inthis together, and what each of us does individually has quite a large effect on the world overall. We need a social revolution, and I believe that we are overdue, and that it's coming.
UL - Here is a question with no snark intended. Can it be possible to find the true Jesus Christ without the church? Is there salvation, as it were, without religion?
CY:
Thanks for the question, and no, it doesn't seem snarky at all.
Frankly, it's impossible without the Church or religion. Sorry, for it seems that religion or religious leaders distract us from finding Christ. I wish it were different, but that is the state-of-affairs.
The Church is what Christ came to build. It is his bride, the people he came to save from their sins. If you exclude the Church but just search the scriptures that speak of his work, you are delving into the Church's book. Religion, on the same token (religio is Latin meaning "to tie or bind together")is the beliefs and practices that bind a person to what they believe. So, whether you are a part of a religious organization, or do it alone, if you put into practice what you learn, you are, by definition, practicing religion.
On the other hand, it's not religion that is bad. It is hypocrisy in religion that is VERY bad. It's living a lie that is bad. It's saying I follow Jesus Christ and then be glad your neighbor is going to hell. That is NOT the religion of Jesus Christ. They may act cocky and think they are superior to you, but they are in extremely dangerous waters. For, to these Christ himself will say, "Depart from me--I never knew you." Those who "feel free" to condemn others to hell will themselves be condemned. God have mercy on all of us!
The times I take you or UWL to task over your blanket comments against religion are not just to argue with you or for sport. I have a purpose for what I do. I truly say "Amen" to your vitriol against religious hypocrisy. It saddens and angers me too, for it causes many to stumble away from Christ. It's when you give a blanket condemnation of all religion that I object to. Why? Because when you make a hasty generalization of all of Christendom, you miss the tremendous good that is in the Church. This is why we end up having these passionate exchanges. I never doubt your intentions or that you want that which is good. I want what is good for you as well--more than you'll ever know.
I also really feel for you guys, for like you, I--all of us are continuously looking to find anchors to make sense of life, to search for meaning and make the most of the days we have on this little orb called earth. The blemishes of the Church are truly ugly and are scandalous. In light of this, please let me offer some advice for you just to consider, that's all.
In the Church, there is a divine side and a human side. The divine side is where Christ is, where he'll be with us until the final days. He is present in Word and in the Sacraments. There are tremendously loving and caring people that silently live their lives faithful to Christ's teaching. They don't get noticed; they don't get on T.V or in the newspapers. They are really good people who live out the precepts of Christ. They usually take the cheap shots by those who take them for the seemingly overwhelming lot who live superficial religious lives.
Then there's the human side, where imperfect people, whether in the hierarchy, or among the laity, that really screw things up very badly. I need not come up with examples--you have met some of them.
Jesus prepared us for this reality when he gave the parable of the wheat field. A farmer sowed wheat in a field, but during the night his enemy sowed tares, or weeds. When the farmers hired hands saw the weeds, they asked the farmer to pull the weeds. The farmer says, "No, for the sake of the wheat, leave the tares. At the harvest, the tares will be gathered up, tied up in bundles and burned. So for the sake of the Church, the weeds, or the evil doers in the church remain (i.e., bad priests, bishops, laymen, etc.) to get the bad press, to be paraded in front of us on T.V., and make horrible decisions or non-decisions. Sadly, the entire Church gets the rap.
I'm not going to sugar-coat it for you; this is the state of affairs of the Church. It's tough being a Christian when some "Christians" make it bad for the rest of us. Would it be easier for the Church if it had a utopian existence, where nothing but saints within her walls? Sure, but then it wouldn't look like a place for those of us outsider her walls who are looking for hope and a home. We are all sinners in desparate need of God's grace, forgiveness, healing and guidance.
When I became a Catholic Christian, it wasn't because I was so great that I became one, it is because I was so BAD that I became one. In addition, I had to look past some bad behaviors to find Christ in the Church. In addition, I'm sure I've added my own bad behaviors for others to gasp at. I'm so sorry. Happily Christ IS STILL THERE! And, there are simply wonderful people, priests and laypersons for whom I would lay down my life. I'm serious. There's also a few stinkers too. The good thing is, the stinkers take nothing away from me. I can experience Christ with weeds growing right next to me.
Thanks for the question, CY. I know you well enough, that these issues are very important and you don't want to waste your time with things that don't matter. I also know you and I get into verbal "pissing matches," but I think you and I want the same thing--the real deal in life. Peace.
Wow, this went long. I'm sorry.
And THAT's why people are turned off to religion.
This is a response from Dr. Deb to something similiar to this post that I commented on at her blog.
Dear United,
There are studies that show how violent games increase aggressiveness. I think there is complacency now unlike ever before. With this issue, the war, poverty, hunger, etc. Many of us, like you and me and fellow bloggers here, are shaking our fists at the sky and pounding the pavement. Sadly, the apathic outnumbers those of us who are upset by it all.
UL - Thank you for the thoughtful answer. I just have a hard time believing that Christ's word came down accurately through the church. The general message is there, but most of what surronds it in the bible was put there for a reason...by men. Especially in light of the fact that it was founded by men in competition with other church's and then it became a de facto government from Constantine throughout he dark ages.
Anyway, I don't want to hijack this thread with a religious discussion.
Back to the topic. I think we all have to guard against our own nature. Man's inhumanity toward other men is so close to the surface that its sudden appearance shouldn't seem so shocking. I consider myself lucky to have, and at the same time am horrified by having, witnessed my own inhumnaity. We are equal parts good and evil, whether we like to believe it or not.
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