Newtown, Connecticut

Cloud #2. Joder Arabian Ranch, 2012

December 14, 2012, Sandy Hook Elementary School, Newtown, Connecticut…27 dead.

There are no words to express the extreme senselessness of it all. It is simply awful.

And…In the last 30 years, there have now been 62 cases of mass shootings in which four or more people died…total dead and injured: just under 1,000. The current year, 2012 has been the worst. You can see details here (My stats add in the Newtown tragedy.).

And…The gun control debate will dominate the headlines yet again–and probably that’s a good thing–as long as we delve deeper into the issue than simple gun control.

Why? Because the issue of guns and access to them is just a symptom of a much deeper problem in this country: the culture of violence. It is a tradition that began when the first white settlers stepped ashore to take the land and it continues unabated today.

Here is some food for thought: Can you imagine the holy hell that would break loose if you were to show explicit footage of two people making love (I don’t refer to porn) on a prime time TV show or in video games for kids? BUT, it is perfectly all right to show kids mass murder, executions, blood, gore, torture, body parts, etc on those same programs and games. Why? If you really give it some thought, is that not a really sick distortion of values?

The truth of the matter is that violence is VALUED in our society. We need to look in the mirror and face up to that fact.

I personally believe the best path forward is openness, mutual respect, mutual support, communication, education, solidarity, help for those in need, forgiveness, and love. Alas, given our track record (think 9-11, for example), our more probable path will be that of fear, control, lockdowns, surveillance cameras, searches, revenge, suspicion, hate and more violence.

My heart goes out to the parents, family and friends of the Newtown victims.