Like a heartbeat...
It seems that everyone is talking about the shooting at Pulse in Orlando. Talking and talking and talking, and rightfully so.
For the past week, I've been scribbling in my notebooks while I've watched friends and family change profile pictures and make declarations of sadness and support. I've seen varying reactions re-posted, re-blogged, and ranted about. I've re-posted reactions that articulated my feelings about the shooting and the subsequent fall-out far better than I could.
But through it all, I've felt like I needed to SAY something myself. To add my own voice to the thousands (at least) of others out there. So here it is - I thank you in advance for reading, and I apologize if this is less than completely coherent.
The shooting at Pulse in Orlando was first and foremost, just plain awful. It should cause grief, it should cause empathy, we should mourn the lives lost and grieve with those left behind. But I disagree with those who say: that's enough, let's just acknowledge that this was terrible. Let's just grieve with the friends and family who are touched by this tragedy.
We are ALL touched by this tragedy. And yes, we should grieve. But we should also act. I've seen people - good, well-meaning, loving people - put forth the opinion that this is something that should not be dragged onto the battlefields of politics or religion. I respectfully have to disagree.
This is about grief. This IS about the loss of human life. It is ALSO about religion and how whatever beliefs you hold shape your actions towards those around you. (Quick Tip: if your religion is the stick you handily use to beat up people who make you uncomfortable, I think you may be doing it wrong). It is ALSO about the dangers of gun violence and being willing to research and legislate in a way that will help lower that potential. It is ALSO about homophobia. It is about ALL of these things.
As a Christian, I do believe that sending my thoughts and prayers up for all of those affected, all of US affected, is a good thing to do. It is the first thing we should do. But it's not the ONLY thing we should do. It is not where our responsibility as Christians, or just as decent, moral members of society stops.
I get that we can't all be political activists on a large scale. We can't all get up in front of a microphone, or make a piece of statement art, or... whatever other grand gesture you think you would make IF you had the capability.
But we can speak up. In our communities, in our own homes. We can open conversations with those around us. And we should. We need to. With love, and empathy, and compassion, and open ears. Listen, then speak, then listen again.
Does this seem like an exercise in futility? Yes. Do I think we're going to be able to stop dangerous, disturbed people with unsound reasoning skills from ever causing another human being pain? Obviously not. But I think we can lessen the chances. I believe that if we simply throw up our hands and don't try to make a difference - we're at fault when it happens again.
For the past week, I've been scribbling in my notebooks while I've watched friends and family change profile pictures and make declarations of sadness and support. I've seen varying reactions re-posted, re-blogged, and ranted about. I've re-posted reactions that articulated my feelings about the shooting and the subsequent fall-out far better than I could.
But through it all, I've felt like I needed to SAY something myself. To add my own voice to the thousands (at least) of others out there. So here it is - I thank you in advance for reading, and I apologize if this is less than completely coherent.
The shooting at Pulse in Orlando was first and foremost, just plain awful. It should cause grief, it should cause empathy, we should mourn the lives lost and grieve with those left behind. But I disagree with those who say: that's enough, let's just acknowledge that this was terrible. Let's just grieve with the friends and family who are touched by this tragedy.
We are ALL touched by this tragedy. And yes, we should grieve. But we should also act. I've seen people - good, well-meaning, loving people - put forth the opinion that this is something that should not be dragged onto the battlefields of politics or religion. I respectfully have to disagree.
This is about grief. This IS about the loss of human life. It is ALSO about religion and how whatever beliefs you hold shape your actions towards those around you. (Quick Tip: if your religion is the stick you handily use to beat up people who make you uncomfortable, I think you may be doing it wrong). It is ALSO about the dangers of gun violence and being willing to research and legislate in a way that will help lower that potential. It is ALSO about homophobia. It is about ALL of these things.
As a Christian, I do believe that sending my thoughts and prayers up for all of those affected, all of US affected, is a good thing to do. It is the first thing we should do. But it's not the ONLY thing we should do. It is not where our responsibility as Christians, or just as decent, moral members of society stops.
I get that we can't all be political activists on a large scale. We can't all get up in front of a microphone, or make a piece of statement art, or... whatever other grand gesture you think you would make IF you had the capability.
But we can speak up. In our communities, in our own homes. We can open conversations with those around us. And we should. We need to. With love, and empathy, and compassion, and open ears. Listen, then speak, then listen again.
Does this seem like an exercise in futility? Yes. Do I think we're going to be able to stop dangerous, disturbed people with unsound reasoning skills from ever causing another human being pain? Obviously not. But I think we can lessen the chances. I believe that if we simply throw up our hands and don't try to make a difference - we're at fault when it happens again.
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