Usually, I write my blogs in advance and have them prescheduled to pop up at six in the morning. With Yom Kippur, the most important Jewish holiday, during which we atone for our sins and on which our fate for the next year is sealed, being this past weekend and a number of other things occurring, I wrote part of today’s blog, but never finished it. I was going to sneak it up a few hours late. But then I woke up to the tragic shooting in Las Vegas.
I don’t usually write political blogs nor comment on current events, but the world has gone to hell in a handbag. Whether by the actions of terrorists or lone wolf demented individuals, we no longer live in an Ozzie and Harriett or Leave it to Beaver era. Come to think of it, I never did. I grew up with protests, Vietnam, and the history of Kent State. I also grew up feeling safe to wander the streets of London in early morning to see if char ladies really existed, to run down a street in Boston, to hear a concert in Las Vegas, to dance at a club in Florida, to fly in and out of Paris, and to kiss my children good-bye as they went off to spend terms abroad.
Why?
My heart goes out to those who have been killed or injured in any and all of these instances. The waste of life, the loss of human potential cannot be measured. History teaches us the sins of hatred and violence accomplish nothing except decimating humanity so why are they repeated? I don’t have an answer, but I rile against those who act without thought for others.
We talk of communication, but there is none in these acts. A point is made, but it is lost in the tragedy of the moment. I reach out my hand to all of you for only if we communicate will there be a world and a life for us, our children, our grandchildren, and the generations to come.
I wanted to make some profound comment in response to your column, but what is there to say? You have said it all.
Thank you…. and I wish I hadn’t had the need to say it.
Thank you, Debra, for your thoughtful blog. If only there were a single answer to the question “Why?”
My concern is that we see things like this happen over and over, see it replayed over and over in the television pictures and coverage. Will we become accustomed to the images to the point that they cease to shock?
Like the video games my grandson plays, the answer may be yes.
I wish I knew why, and how to stop this violence. It is impossible to think of other matters while such a horrendous act casts a cloud over our world.
Completely agree. Although my politics are vented in private (and agree with yours), this has become the norm to a point we are forgetting history.
I grew up the same as you..it seemed to be an Ozzie and Harriet world..then there was Vietnam and Kent State, the freedom to move about in the world..was disappearing…And now…and now…..there are no words from me….you have spoken well..for many…
Thank you.
So well said. I can’t grasp why someone goes down this horrible and senseless path. The good news is that good folks can and will win out.
I pray that is true….
To quote Robert Burns, “The best-laid schemes o’ mice an’ men Gang aft agley”
The world has always been a terrible place. With the mania protecting the second amendment, we will witness so much more foolishness.
But maybe one day, if we talk, we can make it a little better place.
Thoughtful blog, Debra.
Thank you
My mind has been swirling all day and I have felt tears coming at times. Yes there were protests in our Ozzie & Harriet world but no one had 10 semi-automatic machine guns. I heard one “official” suggest that to prevent these things from happening we install magnetometers at hotel entrances to scan for guns. He forgot to mention high schools (Columbine), movie theaters (Aurora), elementary schools (Sandy Hook), universities (Virginia Tech), churches (Charleston), etc. Maybe there are better answers.
I only wish….