Today we grieve the loss of lives in yet another hate crime. A kid, armed and brimming with hatred against people who'd done nothing to him, showed up at a historic African Methodist Episcopal church in Charleston, South Carolina. He sat among good people who were there for a prayer meeting, and amidst their humble prayers, killed innocent people.
Even our president, ever the pragmatist, voiced his despair at our inability to overcome paralysis when it comes to passing legislation that would protect our people. Dependence on the amounts of filthy lucre it takes to become elected trumps the safety of constituents.
Paranoia has torpedoed the sales of "smart guns," that would render firearms inactive without the identity of the lawful owner in range.
A young person posts to a friend's timeline, "I always carry my sidearm," as if to declare his bravery. He fails to see what we see: a young person looking for a reason to use his toy. Looking for a reason to exercise his superiority, all the while broadcasting his inner fears and jumpiness.
As I've stated before, I've no quibble with hunters, unless of course they are on "safari" where they shoot animals that are corralled or caged for their convenience. That's not sport. That's a complete lack of character. Hunters who put wild game in the freezer for food, and hunters who happily donate their game to food banks, just don't need to be criticized. Hunting isn't for all of us, but for those who do relish the wee hours spent in discomfort while they stalk game, it is a grand activity. My dad and his buddies did it and I learned early on to respect that.
But it's handguns that bother me. My cousin's great-great-uncle James B. Hickok carried pistols to keep order when he was Marshall of Abilene, Kansas. He was also shot by a pistol while playing poker in Deadwood. It was an act of retribution, plain and simple, and in all these years since, nothing much has changed about people who, armed with handguns, set out to prove something.
Today my African American friends are posting some heart wrenching things that tell me we are at the tipping point. Our nation is in trouble and there is no doubt in my mind the fears of my friends need to be my fears as well. Today, all over our country, people are praying for a reprieve from this violence and the injustice that precedes it.
God, you want to prove your existence to the millions of doubters? Step in. Give our lawmakers the cojones to show up in Congress and pass a bipartisan bill - unanimously - that puts an end to this kind of wholesale insanity. Make them think it through very, very carefully. Make them vote for it even though the gun nuts and the NRA and the neo-cons get a bad case of hives over it. Remind Rush that he's only steps away from a similar crazy parking a round in that empty skull of his over his brand of foaming hatred. And most of all, awaken the consciences of those who harbor resentment and desire retribution.
The ancestors of my friends laid the foundations for our country. They didn't ask for that kind of employment. It was forced on them. You'd think that after all we've been through as a country that injustice would be something we've closed the book on, but rather it seems to be gearing up for another great upheaval.
I know we can't fix stupid. But right about now, the stupid ones are armed to the teeth and the smart ones are standing around feeling a lot of pain and frustration. I'd draw another picture that involves a hand and genitals, but you get the idea.
How many more innocent people must become martyrs before our elected officials demonstrate that they truly are men and women of God, and that God isn't spelled NRA?
Even our president, ever the pragmatist, voiced his despair at our inability to overcome paralysis when it comes to passing legislation that would protect our people. Dependence on the amounts of filthy lucre it takes to become elected trumps the safety of constituents.
Paranoia has torpedoed the sales of "smart guns," that would render firearms inactive without the identity of the lawful owner in range.
A young person posts to a friend's timeline, "I always carry my sidearm," as if to declare his bravery. He fails to see what we see: a young person looking for a reason to use his toy. Looking for a reason to exercise his superiority, all the while broadcasting his inner fears and jumpiness.
As I've stated before, I've no quibble with hunters, unless of course they are on "safari" where they shoot animals that are corralled or caged for their convenience. That's not sport. That's a complete lack of character. Hunters who put wild game in the freezer for food, and hunters who happily donate their game to food banks, just don't need to be criticized. Hunting isn't for all of us, but for those who do relish the wee hours spent in discomfort while they stalk game, it is a grand activity. My dad and his buddies did it and I learned early on to respect that.
But it's handguns that bother me. My cousin's great-great-uncle James B. Hickok carried pistols to keep order when he was Marshall of Abilene, Kansas. He was also shot by a pistol while playing poker in Deadwood. It was an act of retribution, plain and simple, and in all these years since, nothing much has changed about people who, armed with handguns, set out to prove something.
Today my African American friends are posting some heart wrenching things that tell me we are at the tipping point. Our nation is in trouble and there is no doubt in my mind the fears of my friends need to be my fears as well. Today, all over our country, people are praying for a reprieve from this violence and the injustice that precedes it.
God, you want to prove your existence to the millions of doubters? Step in. Give our lawmakers the cojones to show up in Congress and pass a bipartisan bill - unanimously - that puts an end to this kind of wholesale insanity. Make them think it through very, very carefully. Make them vote for it even though the gun nuts and the NRA and the neo-cons get a bad case of hives over it. Remind Rush that he's only steps away from a similar crazy parking a round in that empty skull of his over his brand of foaming hatred. And most of all, awaken the consciences of those who harbor resentment and desire retribution.
The ancestors of my friends laid the foundations for our country. They didn't ask for that kind of employment. It was forced on them. You'd think that after all we've been through as a country that injustice would be something we've closed the book on, but rather it seems to be gearing up for another great upheaval.
I know we can't fix stupid. But right about now, the stupid ones are armed to the teeth and the smart ones are standing around feeling a lot of pain and frustration. I'd draw another picture that involves a hand and genitals, but you get the idea.
How many more innocent people must become martyrs before our elected officials demonstrate that they truly are men and women of God, and that God isn't spelled NRA?
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