Why?

Today I found myself watching The Talk and crying over the six lives that were lost in the shooting nightmare in Arizona. Also, for the others who were shot and potential lives that could still be lost. I'm sure there has been plenty of discussion about the incident over the weekend. Gayle King was talking about this morning on her radio show. Everyone wants to know "why?" That is what I was thinking. Why? Is it just because this individual had some mental instability? Was it provoked because of hate rhetoric within the political arena? No matter what the reason it is a tragedy.

On the mental side...Was this boy ignored? Did anyone do anything to help him? What is his family like? If others thought there was something wrong with him or were fearful of him, was there anything they could have done? The school that basically expelled him for his outbursts, did they try to help? Would any of this have even mattered?

The possible mental issues set aside I am so saddened by the anger and unreasonable rationale that seems to go hand-in-hand with both political parties these days. We are headed down a dark path. The hate is building and it's disheartening. Words are powerful and they are being slung around without a thought of their possible consequences. It only takes one "unstable" person to jump on these band wagons and carry out unthinkable actions. Both sides are so dead set on "their way" that there is no calm reasonable thought process to do what is right for all. Who cares who's idea it is? Who cares if it follows one side more than the other. There has to be a happy medium! It's ok to disagree. It's ok to debate. But, it's how you go about it. It's how you express it. Don't add flame to the fire. Don't belittle and berate. Don't tear others down in the process. Be respectful even if you don't see eye-to-eye. Don't wish hate and hateful actions on others. Don't say things or conduct yourself in a way that can cause ill effect. THINK! Times have changed. We have evolved. There is a lot of talk these days about returning to the ideas, ways and foundation of our founding fathers. Think first before you go there completely. There are great ideals there that should be a starting point, but let's not forget that those same men thought that women shouldn't vote and black Americans should be slaves. Evolved! We have evolved. Let's use some of those foundations to set the future. Let's re-evaluate the laws and rights based on our current lives and world we live in.

Stepping down off of my soap box now, and getting back to what matters most...those families that no longer have the loved one in their life because they were taken on that day by this sick individual.

Christina Greene (9)
Gabriel Zimmerman (30)
John Roll (63)
Dorthy Murray (76)
Dorwin Stoddard (76)
Phyllis Scheck (79)