"Today is not the day to discuss gun control" - White House Press Secretary, Jay Carney said today. Amidst another tragic example of insanity, he's somewhat correct - it's long past the time we should have been discussing the kind of gun control that makes a difference. But, it's more than the issue of gun control. We need to have a national conversation about the causes of a growing insanity.
I'm not suggesting terrorists who kill children are legally insane - but these acts of terror are acts of insanity born out of the kinds of frustrations we continue to foment in this country. The past election is an example of the kind of hatred that is gaining acceptance by all of us. We are in danger of becoming honey badgers (if you don't get what this means, google "honey badger don't give a s**t).
And it isn't a lack of religion. Organized religion has fomented its fair share of hatred.
So, what are we lacking? (More below the glorious orange swirly thingy.)
Right now, too many people are lacking the kind of self-confidence that good-paying jobs can offer. Yes, unemployment is down, but many people across the country are working two-three low-paying jobs just to make it. That kind of strain leads to low self-esteem, stress from overwork and lack of rest, and frustration of never quite getting ahead. So, better paying jobs, jobs that offer respect, can be part of the cure for this kind of gun violence.
Currently, millions of Americans lack regular health care. Millions more lack any kind of mental health care. It is still considered a lack of personal worth to seek out mental health care in this country. Too many of us lack the resources necessary to get the quality mental health we need when there are so many problems pressing against us day in and day out.
Families are not just a man, a woman, and children, staying together regardless of circumstance, often in homes filled with hopelessness, violence, abuse, sexual frustration, anger, and finally hatred. Families are made up of people who cohabit because they love each other; people who respect each other and work hard to create an atmosphere of growth, caring, self-worth, interest, respect, and love. Families work at understanding each other and paying the kind of attention to each other to notice when one member needs extra help, such as mental health care, and to provide that help as much as possible. Of course, this circles back to having the resources necessary, such as a good-paying job, that makes getting care possible, or, of course, universal health care.
(I’m watching the news like everyone else, and Brian Williams, just stated,
“Well, we live in a violent society. It’s been like that since the assassination of JFK. . .”
and of course, Colorado continues to be mentioned.)
Hundreds of thousands of Americans lack either nutritious food or access to nutritious food. For an example of living on food stamps, click here: http://www.upworthy.com/...
Mental health professionals and medical professionals has been explored.
“The role of nutrition in human behaviour is an intriguing subject that is on the verge of experiencing explosive interest.” Kaplan, Bonnie. “The Relationship Between Nutrition and Mental Disorders”. The Journal of Science. 7-2-2002. http://sciencecareers.sciencemag.org/...
Bipartisanship has become more than a buzzword of Washington politics. It is in danger of becoming a way of life for millions of average citizens who violently oppose anyone with a differing point of view, religious belief, political leaning, skin color, ethnic heritage, clothing style, hair color, weight, height, (add as many items as you choose to this list; mine isn’t exhaustive). It has become more acceptable to act contemptibly towards anyone who is different; from yelling expletives, to spitting on others, to slapping, pushing, and punching, to tear gassing, to killing. Courtesy in disagreement is losing ground. Debates are not as popular as WWE.
Ultimately, it falls back on us. We, as human beings, must decide how we are going to act in this world. It amazes me that following these tragedies, so many people come forward and open their hearts to help the communities, and families. The message is that so many of us know how to behave, we know how to be moral, with or without organized religion; we know how to love one another. So, why does it take a tragedy, either man-made, such as an act of terror, or weather related, such as a hurricane, to show us? We are lectured constantly to show this kind of human compassion daily, to “be the change we want to see in the world” (What Gandhi actually said:
“If we could change ourselves, the tendencies in the world would also change. As a man changes his own nature, so does the attitude of the world change towards him. … We need not wait to see what others do.”
So, what holds us back? We all know the answer: the daily stuff – work, family, home, work, gas prices, food prices, work, getting the chores done, the errands run, the kids to the (park, dentist, doctor, soccer game, etc.), work, talking on the phone, FaceBook entries, email, work, driving in traffic, putting up with all the people in the stores, work. Who has time to care about others? We don’t even have time to care for our own families. Oh, yeah, that’s what we’re talking about, isn’t it, caring about ourselves, our own families.
Jobs that offer respect and living wages, universal health care (including mental health, dental health, and optometry); getting nutritious food to everyone; allowing people who love each other to live in any family unit they choose to create; boycotting hate speech (not listening to, watching, playing, or financially supporting internet sites, radio programs, TV programs, video games, or any source of violence toward others, including war; training community, state, and federal leaders in compassion; insisting that terror and violence are not answers to problems; becoming involved whenever possible in local community services that help people; spirituality (not necessarily religion);
"Spirituality doesn't need religion; religion does need spirituality" - Unknown.
and of course, loving ourselves and each other are all ways to help alleviate some of the national gun violence.
Oh, yeah, we need gun control, too.