Monday, June 13, 2016

Orlando Shooting Response

I would like to start with my feelings of sympathy for the victims, and their families. This is a national tragedy, and nothing we can say, or do will make anything any better, or undo the tragic events that transpired at Pulse. The shooter, was obviously full of hate towards the LGBT community, whether it was because of his faith as a Muslim, or because of a culture of hate that is maintained, and encouraged by the media, or a mix of both is unknown. We know little of his motives, only that he was extremely angry at seeing two men kissing. The attack on Pulse was obviously driven by one thing: Hate. The only way to overcome this hate is to love, not with kind words, but with action. I see a lot of profile pictures being changed on Facebook, and that is fine, show your support for the families. Don't, don't you fucking dare say that you are Orlando when mere days earlier you were bashing the entire LGBT community, your hypocrisy is not wanted, and your false sympathy is not needed. To my Christian friends who read this blog, I would direct you to Matthew 5:21-22 "Ye have heard that it was said of them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: 5:22 But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire." In other words: Murder starts in the heart, if you hate, you are guilty of murder. Show compassion, even understanding of your neighbors, whether they are LGBT, Straight, Christians, Muslims, Jewish, Atheists, Buddhists, etc... Have an inkling of humanity and try to understand what it is like to live like they do. Offer to help, be the change that you wish to see in the world.
The news traveled around the world "50 Dead in Orlando, FL Shooting". People are asking what we should do to stop the madness that has been getting progressively worse in America. A lot should be done, thorough background checks on firearms, making it more difficult to purchase assault weapons, or large quantities of ammunition. But I'll tell you what will happen America: Not a fucking thing.
We're going to mourn, and be careful not to politicize anything for the next month, until the next attention grabbing headline. We're going to forget this ever happened, like we did every school shooting, like we did every act of massive violence in the past five years. People are going to hold their guns closer to their chest, and say Big Bad Obama is surely going to take our guns away now. But I guarantee one thing, not a fucking thing will change, simply because of the fetish Americans have with their firearms.
Are the solutions proposed going to ensure this never happens again? Hell no, but it will lessen the risks of it happening. Meanwhile, Assault weapons manufacturers rub their hands together because their pockets get more and more filled. I capitalized Assault because that's what they are called, not "Self defense" weapons, or "Protection from tyranny" weapons. It is one thing for people to own firearms, hell, if it makes you tick, have at it, enjoy your handgun, hunting rifle, or shotgun. There is a reason the military has access to all kinds of weapons: they are fighting a fucking war, not because they get a boner from shooting an automatic rifle.
In other words, this society, and culture in America is one of fear and hatred. Hate those who are different, fear those who think differently. Fuck this! How about love the differences? Embrace different points of view?
Never mind, the lights are on, but nobody's home...

3 comments:

  1. It's sad, but it's true. I do feel that events like these have a way of showing humanity's strengths alongside its weaknesses, and there is some positive to be gleaned from the heroic responses that you see from ordinary people, but you're right: I don't suspect anything will change. It will take either a higher frequency or a higher body count before the people rise up and demand change.

    Either way, it's going to get a whole lot worse before it gets better.

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