If not now, When?
20
innocent white children died yesterday because another privileged
white boy took his parent's weapons and acted out, horrifying
America. Babies died. Teachers died. It was an almost unheard of
attack on a school, except that it had happened before, at Columbine
and Virginia Tech. Two days earlier another one walked into a mall in
another non-urban area and killed two before killing himself. Other crazy white boys have turned churches into shooting ranges to demonstrate their hate of people who are different.
What
makes this so horrifying was the age of the latest victims, 5-10
years old. Even President Obama teared up while delivering the
country's condolences via nationwide news coverage.
Yet,
Obama's press secretary shut down the press who dared to ask for a
response, by saying “today is not the day.”
I
am truly sorry so many little white kids died, yesterday. I really
am. But the day to hold this conversation on gun violence in America
was this past summer when gun death stalked the streets of Chicago. The day to hold this conversation was when the crazy white supremacist walked into a Sikh Temple and killed innocent people of color.
The
time to hold this conversation was when Amadou DiAllou was killed at
his front door, or when Sean Bell died in his car the night before he
was to get married, or when Trayvon Martin was killed while walking
home, or the young man was executed in the back seat of his friend's
car, down in Florida, a few weeks ago.
The
time to hold this conversation is the next time a bullet rips through
a wall and kills a kid thought to be safe inside her own bedroom
The
time to hold this conversation is whenever the Mothers of murdered
children hold a march and vigil in the neighborhoods of the inner
city, commemorating the lives of their dead children, just as
innocent and cut down in life way to soon.
These
victims, people of color, usually, are equally as innocent as the
ones who died at Sandy Hook, or Columbine or Virginia Tech, but they
are totally forgotten. The daily body count is not even mentioned
in the same breath with what happened in these communities “where
things such as this just never happen.”
Mass
murders seem to be increasing in upscale communities, and I guess I should welcome the coming storm of media coverage that follows rich white people and their children when they die. However, daily
killings go on in urban centers unabated, and unreported, and all we get is silence
from Washington.
Another
crazy white boy takes out a Congresswoman and nine others, and all
you hear from Congress is silence when one of their own is cut down.
Nothing.
Nada.
Neither
side of the congressional aisle had anything to say when Gabbie Giffords was shot, or yesterday,
proving that Democrats are as bought and paid for by the National
Rifle Association as Republicans. Everybody who calls himself a
politician suckles at the NRA money tit, regardless of the outcry
coming from the people they are supposed to represent.
The
second amendment was not meant to be stretched this far or used for
the purpose of allowing crazies to arm themselves with big guns in
order to kill the rest of us. I've got no problem with hunters or
home protection. But the question that has to be answered is, what
“game” are you hunting for with an AK-47 or a gun that fires wall
piercing bullets?
Which
brings me back to the President. Having recently won re election in a
landslide, isn't it time to speak up on the things that people care
about, namely gun violence, stopping the wars altogether, and
rebuilding infrastructure, mental health issues, climate change and
the environment?
Not
like the prez is going to lose any votes by addressing what we think
is in his heart. The blue collar and rich white men who hate him
now, are not gonna change their minds if he stays silent on gun
control.
They're
already pissed off, so let's go all the way and piss them off some
more.
We
the people gave Obama his Teflon coat of armor. Now is the time to
put it on and take down some of the demons that plague us as a
country. Time to make some real, meaningful change.
Top
of the list, gun violence and mental health.
How
about it Mr. President?
I understand the desire to have gun violence and mental health at the top of the "to do" list, but I disagree. It should be very close to the top, like as soon as the top item is in the works, get this in the works. But the top item should be jobs with a living wage, so that people can live decently without having to scrimp just to get by, especially with a family. That has a great deal to do with the mental health issue, becasue it would relieve much of the stress causing those mental health problems. And by all means, reverse the Reagan-era closings of mental health facilities that put people on the streets who shouldn't even be out in public without supervision. As for gun violeence, yeah, that's also tied in directly to mental health. The gun control laws on the books need to be enforced, and mental health screenings should be required for anyone who wants to purchase, own, or use any firearm or for that matter, any kind of weapon. That's my take on the issue, anyway. Great blog! I enjoyed reading this!
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