Oh beautiful, for spacious skies, and amber waves of grain….America, America, God shed his light on thee….
Just heard about another mall shooting in Portland today. In case some weren’t aware of this fact–80% of all shooting deaths in the 23 richest countries combined are American shooting deaths. This is a widely known stat. I know we could go on and on once again about guns not killing people, but people killing people…blah, blah blah. Where does that conversation ever get us? NOWHERE.
Time to get real here. STOP THE HATE. STOP THE RACISM. STOP THE FEAR. Leave GOD out of all of it…unless you’re actually going to practice what is supposedly preached. I’m done with HOLY WARS. There is a reason why civilized countries with more guns than America per capita have VERY low gun crime. We have been born and raised on fear and intimidation. Throughout our history…we have been violent attackers, full of arrogance and a sense of entitlement. No denying that. We came. We conquered. We LOVE our guns…we love what they give us. Power. We love power. Not to say that we don’t all enjoy the benefits of living in the country with the biggest and most powerful military in the world…but there is a consequence of all of that. Big Heads and Big Greed.
How about for once we instead of using our guns to get our way, how about if we start using our heads, and using our hearts. Poverty breeds violence. Racism breeds violence. Arrogance and greed breed violence. Religion breeds hate and violence. We can combat this violent culture. But we have to get back to basics. We have to care enough.
Let’s start helping our brothers and sisters out of poverty. Let’s remind each other that we are ONE nation…Under God, or not. We are a diverse country. Accept that. Embrace that. We are only as strong as our weakest citizen. We have to help each other up–Let’s improve our inner cities and let’s reach out to rural communities. Let us not fear our neighbors. Let’s make our education systems across the country the best in the world. Let’s empower the middle class, and let them lead the country out of this economic mess. Let’s show the rich that there is more to life than money and material wealth. We are America…we’re supposed to be that beacon of light and hope that the rest of the world looks to for guidance and inspiration. Aren’t we?
Right to bear arms. Lovely. This is exactly what our forefathers envisioned….I’m quite sure of it. America The Beautiful. Right? I love my country. I love it enough to say..I want it better. I want it safer. I want it cleaner. I want it a kinder place to be. I hope enough Americans feel the same. Peace.
Last Tweets
The sad fact is that we are a violence and gun loving people. That’s unlikely to change. That gun rights are enshrined in the Constitution is also not going to change. I’m afraid this is one of those issues that will be talked about in the same way 30 years from now. Different deaths, same arguments.
It’s not just about guns, it’s all about the violence. Unfortunately we are human and therefore it’s in our nature but it’s not a good excuse. Even the things we think are changeless can at least be curbed if enough of us put our minds and efforts to it.
Well, Ray…I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. Some may say, I’m a dreamer. But I hope I’m not the only one. I still truly believe we have more power to change our culture than some would believe or dare to believe. We can elect better leaders. Be can be leaders ourselves. Lifting our fellow Americans out of poverty is key. We have to find leaders that have the same passion and desire. Optimism can spread. I’ll do my part. I don’t give up easily. Thanks so much for your input. I totally understand it…one step, one day a time…I believe we’ll move forward.
Yes, people kill people. We use many different things to achieve this – sticks, rocks, rope, cars, lorries, guns. In groups, we use aircraft, unmanned drones, missiles, bombs, tanks, mines. At the individual level, it is much easier to kill people with guns than rocks or sticks. So, easier access to guns results in more murder. Though why this happens more in America than other well off countries, by 80%, is a conundrum. Maybe it is cultural.
Oh I absolutely believe it’s cultural…why is then that other Western countries, with more guns then we do…and by far in some places, don’t have this kind of gun violence? Do I wish there were less guns, absolutely. That would absolutely reduce the number of gun deaths. But it does nothing to change the culture, and the desire…I believe if it’s not guns…they’ll find something else. Let’s plant better seeds for our country and our humanity. Peace and Happy Holidays to you and Kathy…