We may see eye-to-eye
on these points, or we may differ on all counts but in order to solve for this
horrific epidemic we need a multipronged approach that addresses more than a
single religion or race as the antagonist or a single populace as the victim.
In the
aftermath of the Orlando shootings that occurred in the early hours of June 12th
I am still wondering how we can live in a world where violence is becoming less
predictable by the second. How it seems, as people we can let one of our own
drift so far astray that they could not only justify, but then visit, the most
heinous acts upon another human being. The concept is beyond me.
Those
of you that read this page regularly are aware that I try to approach my ramblings
with a clumsy sort of humor in order to lighten the subject matter at times to
provide levity. This subject however, being one of the most grim I have written
on, will not fit that mold. I intend to stay focused and solemn out of respect
for the victims and their families and friends, as I collect my thoughts on
what is no doubt a serious and real subject.
Item #1 – What are we dealing with?
Recall
that this isn’t solely a “gay” issue, this isn’t even a “Muslim” issue, and it ceased
being a local, or even American problem years ago. We need to understand that
trying to label and assign generalizations to those who have been attacked, or
those that do the attacking is presumptive, and generally a waste of time. It’s
futile as rationale human beings to try and assign meaning to the meaningless.
Terrorism,
foreign or domestic is (and has been) a global issue. Both its perpetrators and
targets are faceless, and yet known to us- because
they are us.
Item #2 – What’s the diagnosis?
No
one can argue that any person; man or women, black, white, brown or orange that
conspires to carry out atrocities against innocent strangers cannot be deemed
mentally stable. We as people need to take responsibility and increase our own
awareness for our fellow person. We need to ensure that no soul falls through
the cracks of society and thus is never in a position to be retrieved by a
group like ISIS, or otherwise allow dark thoughts to begin to take root.
We
need to take ownership of the mental stability of our society, make a better
effort to engage people where they are at, and act like we care instead of only
saying we do.
Who
knows, in time maybe we can add resources and outreach programs at a national
level, but it starts in our communities.
Item #3 – Action speaks louder than
inaction
Around
the world our leaders need to come to a consensus with groups that would commit
acts of terror, or claim responsibility, that doing so puts a target on the
backs of its members.
Those
with the authority to do so then must seek out those targets, and simply put
make examples of them, whether that be financially, materialistically, or more *final*
measures.
Send
the message that we may not have struck the first blow, but we will strike the
last.
I know
that in a lot of ways the above is general, its level of hopefulness possibly only
dwarfed by its abstract assembly, but it beats the buzz word filled blame game approach
(“gun control”, “gun free zones” etc.) and ham-fisted rhetoric (“radicalized
Muslim”, “refugees”) of those politicos who seem to only use these sad events
to elevate their level of publicity instead of actually presenting a course of
action to combat them. In closing, if you aren’t part of the solution, you are
part of the problem.
Its in
that vein where I’ll wrap up, if you don’t like my ideas, rather than lampoon them;
I encourage you to formulate some of your own. Then try to act upon them (form
a community group, write your elected officials). Who knows your inventiveness
just might save lives.
