I know several of you aren't American, and maybe the shooting at the Charleston church means nothing to some of you.
Truth be told, I don't know why this bothers me so much. It's a tragedy, no doubt. But I'm 34 years old. I remember Princess Diana's death, the Columbine shooting, 9/11, Newtown, etc. The human toll is lower than most of these. Except for Diana, all my examples happened in America.
As I think about all the tragedies, I know that they very small minded in the scheme of the grander picture of the world and its problems, even this country and its problems. But still, I can't help but be shaken by it a little. Most of the other world problems can at least make sense.... they're still horrendously atrocious, but they at least make sense.... in the context of things we hold to be ends unto themselves. Money and power, they can explain to some degree, the lion's share of things going wrong have at least something to do with the desire for money or the quest for power. But the mind-blowing atrocities don't seem to have anything to do with them. Even while you can explain Diana's death as a paparazzi's trying to make a buck off pictures of her, it doesn't seem worth it to be that batshit insane in stalking. 9/11.... sure religion and all that, but it also has to do with land, thereby wealth. But even religion and revenge don't add up to truly making sense. And the school shootings were about hate. How can dysfunction run so deep? How is this learned? Do we have crazy in the water?
It's weird as to why this stings much. Every time I think our country is making social progress, I get shot down in that thought. And now happening in a church. Church burnings are nothing new, even in my lifetime. I know its racism and all, but I've just always believed that we were all equal in the eyes of the Lord. Worshipers shot down in their study and practice. I might be able to understand it if this had more to do with hatred of religion than hatred of Black people.
Everything inside me just wants to scream "WHY?!!?" How are we still manufacturing people like this shooter? My head knows the answer.... there is still so much broken in this world. The other day I read an article that among other things places visits to "The Dark Web" to be connected to child pornography a full 80% of the time. 80% I want to vomit just thinking about it. When you think about that, suddenly the conversation ceases to be about guns, and their availability. It's everything. It's insane. And yet in spite of it all, my cry still goes up in hope and faith and cries out "How long?!" along with all the saints.
I still have hope, but it is fighting the shackles of insanity and hate. Unfortunately, I know that I too will succumb to numb. It's inevitable, and probably done for the sake of survival, but it's sad to know it's coming. But if you can't inure yourself to it, you can't be strong enough to fight it head on either. There'll be a time for tears, but for now, to fight on.
I apologize if you read this whole thing... it's random rambling. Attempted to be connected. This probably should have gone on my personal blog, but I wanted it to actually be read. And this is the only place I could think to come that hasn't been saturated with the hysteria from the media covering it.
So thank you for putting up with me tonight.
Charleston
Charleston
<blockquote class='quote_blockquote'><dl><dt>succotash_54</dt><dd>Jun 19 2015, 11:40 PM</dd></dl><div>and maybe the shooting at the Charleston church means nothing to some of you.[/quote]I highly doubt that.
<blockquote class='quote_blockquote'><dl><dt>succotash_54</dt><dd>Jun 19 2015, 11:40 PM</dd></dl><div>Unfortunately, I know that I too will succumb to numb[/quote]Why?
No, seriously. You've clearly gone on for 34 years without becoming numb. The last few days I've seen plenty of people comment on this who are a lot older than you and me and whose list of witnessed atrocities is a fair bit longer than yours and mine, and they clearly weren't numb either. I share a vast majority of the sentiments you posted but fear of one day being unfazed by events like these is not one of them.
I hope you never stop caring. I don't intend to anyway.
<blockquote class='quote_blockquote'><dl><dt>succotash_54</dt><dd>Jun 19 2015, 11:40 PM</dd></dl><div>Unfortunately, I know that I too will succumb to numb[/quote]Why?
No, seriously. You've clearly gone on for 34 years without becoming numb. The last few days I've seen plenty of people comment on this who are a lot older than you and me and whose list of witnessed atrocities is a fair bit longer than yours and mine, and they clearly weren't numb either. I share a vast majority of the sentiments you posted but fear of one day being unfazed by events like these is not one of them.
I hope you never stop caring. I don't intend to anyway.
Last edited by MadBull on Sat Jun 20, 2015 4:12 am, edited 1 time in total.