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Another Perspective
A Time for Everything
Sandy Hook’s lesson: Mourn with those who mourn.
The media screeches predictably — even when people behave in ways that aren’t predictable. News outlets and commentators seek to sort through the chaos and frame things in order to explain the unexplainable. Whether its Rupert Murdoch chiding politicians for lacking the courage to ban automatic weapons, or Mike Huckabee positing that the systematic removal of God has perpetuated crimes like the killing of 26 people in Sandy Hook elementary school last Friday, opinions abound and emotions run the gamut.
Every time we see a heinous, inexplicable evil such as this, there are as many reactions as there are questions: We should act; we shouldn’t act. We should grieve; we should forgive. While some say we should only mourn; others, like CNN’s Roland Martin say, “Now is the time to talk guns, mental illness.”
To borrow from the bard, every person in time plays different parts. Politicians should offer genuine condolences, as President Obama clearly did, when he choked back tears reading his address to the country. But they should also act: This is their job, to represent the people and their concerns in Congress. It doesn’t mean they should, within 24 hours propose radical legislation — like Senator Dianne Feinstein’s pending assault weapons ban — but they should reason and research, weigh and determine whether policy changes can and should be made.
Others should grieve and remember, honor and celebrate. No child should have to squeeze his eyes shut, blindly hold the hand of his classmate, and amble outside toward safety, unsure of why he must do so and if he will even reach it? No 27-year-old teacher should have to shield her students from a crazed gunman, lying to him about their whereabouts, to save their lives while losing hers.
But still as those stories emerge, in all their nauseating reality, two things remain certain: Evil permeates society and attempts to crush even the most indefensible among us. But also goodness exists, heroism, selflessness, even in the midst of the cruelty and in spite — and because — of it.
As John Piper, a pastor at Bethlehem Baptist, a church I used to attend, tweeted Saturday: “In times of suffering, silence is golden, and speaking is golden. It’s all a matter of truth and timing and tone.” In other words, “There is a time for everything, and a season for activity under the heavens….a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance. (Ecclesiastes 3:1, 4)”
So to the Rupert Murdochs and Mike Huckabees: Your truth, timing, and tone are questionable — indefensible and ridiculous even. But still, what to make of 26 dead, particularly those who were too young to understand what was happening, much less protect themselves?
As the mother of a kindergartner, “what if” in all its variances and possibilities have swirled in my mind, just as they have in the mind of every parent of an elementary-age child nationwide by now. I cannot fathom how the parents are feeling. While I am busy wrapping Christmas gifts for my children, moms and dads in Connecticut are ordering caskets half the size of their bodies: How is this fair? How can we prevent this?
Despite the urge to wave the de facto “we need more gun control” banner typical of post-massacre reactions, pause and consider: Though guns were the vehicle for this atrocity, the gunman attempted — and was unable — to receive a license. He stole guns that belonged to his mother and for which he had no license, to commit a crime that is illegal on a premises which bans weapons. (In essence, the crime occurred smack dab in media res gun control.) Reports are also emerging that he showed signs of mental illness. It’s doubtful that tighter gun laws would prevent someone deranged enough to plan such an act or, if semi-automatic weapons were banned, would have deterred him altogether because his weapon of choice is illegal. The majority, if not all, of these types of shootings in the last several years have occurred where guns are banned: If the gunman knew an armed security personnel awaited his arrival, perhaps he would have chosen a different path, or at least a different target?
Charles Krauthammer, conservative columnist with a M.D. in psychiatry, said he would first examine this shooting via the “psychology of the killer.” How exactly do we go about diagnosing and treating a person who is not only mentally ill while essentially pre-empting a crime he hasn’t yet committed? The answers are as difficult and elusive as the questions, but well worth an examination.
In the months ahead we as a nation can wade through these difficult questions, but let’s also cherish the indefensible among us (young and old) and praise the acts of heroism. Read the names of the little ones, look at the faces of the school staff — honor them with grief, an outpouring of love for their families, and rational acts towards lasting change that will prepare for and possibly prevent tragedies like this.
About the Author
Nicole Russell writes from Northern Virginia.
Letter to the Editor View all comments (17) | Leave a comment
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TLP| 12.17.12 @ 7:12AM
"Everyone should offer genuine condolences, as President Obama clearly did, when he choked back tears reading his address to the country."
Why is it always the Pretty ones?
The Bible tells us of the End Times, and of a Great Evil who will sit on a Great Throne. It tells us that he will come on the scene at a time of World Wide Crises. The World Wide Financial Crises.
He will begin his Reign with a promise of Peace, yet he will not bring it. A rise in the occurrences of Pure Evil around the world. Violence in the streets. Murder and Mayhem. He will use the Scriptures as a camoflage. Quoting them when it suits His purposes.
Does anyone really believe that the same guy who gave 2,000 High Powered Automatic Weapons to the Mexican Drug Cartels gives a Sh*t what happened in Newtown?
How many Mexican Children have been MURDERED by those Weapons? And, if all of this was on the Up and Up, like we have been "Assured"? Why the need for Executive Privilege? Has he ever said Word One about those people HE HAD MURDERED, in his Quest to Disarm the Constitution's last line of Defence? CBS reported the Emails of this Thing's Administration people who were privy to this Operation. These people were ECSTATIC at the possibility that all of these DEAD MEXICANS would make New Gun Controls on Long Guns, a reality.
They look at Newtown, and they get a Thrill up their Leg.
Appleby| 12.17.12 @ 7:18AM
Photo Op. That was my first thought. I spent the evening watching EWTN where Zero would not dream of appearing.
TLP| 12.17.12 @ 8:10AM
Did he shed a tear when our people were being slaughtered in Benghazi? Or did he Go To Bed, just after watching the Live Feed of what was happening, and then Jet Off for Las Vegas the next morning, for Fund Raising and a Party at Jay Z'ss House?
Did he CARE about the little Poor Minority Childrenin D.C. or their Destitute Mothers, when he tore their Private School Vouchers up in exchange for the Pieces of Silver that the Unions had promised him?
He reads from the Bible, but he QUOTES from the Book of the Muslim Pagan Moon God of Blood, from Memory. He recites the Muslim call to Prayer, calling it "The most beautiful sound in the world" and never misses a chance to Celebrate their Unholy Days. Even as he Blows Off Easter, and the National Day of Prayer, every year.
He just gave Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood 100 Fighter Jets FREE OF CHARGE. Why do they need 100 Fighter Jets, and why would this "Christian" give them to this Muslim Terrorist Group? And FOR FREE, NO LESS?
I thought we were BROKE? He wants to CUT OUR MILITARY, but he'll Build Up the Forces of a Know Terrorist Organization, FOR FREE?
Hello?
I think that what he did in Newtown last night, was a Desecration of their Memories. Another chance for Him to advance his Political Agenda, and look like he Gives a Sh*t, while he's doing it. My God, his Press People must have been doing a Chris Mathews x 10. The Ultimate Photo Op. (Remember how the Democrats openly WISHED that 911 could have happened on Clinton's watch)
Von Mises Jr| 12.17.12 @ 8:43AM
Beautifully said, TLP. There are so many ironies and so much deceit in the aftermath of this tragedy. As of last count, some 200-300 Mexicans were dead from truly automatic weapons given on purpose to evil men. Yet we must listen to the people that committed this crime to undermine our Second Amendment now play the martyrs that wish to save us from evil?
Ambassador Stevens did not have armed security and he was tortured, sodomized and killed by evil people whom may have had American weapons, or at least Al Qaeda had the Kaddafi weaponry we helped them secure with regime change.
I say fine. You want to discuss gun control, let's get Hillary, Holder and Barry under Oath and let the games begin.
Stephie| 12.17.12 @ 9:05AM
Hmmm, sorry Von. Ms Hillary has bumped her head and can't attend. She will wait until she is relieved her of her official duties, will lawyer up and use her 5th amendment right or that ole' stand by she used for the Rose Law firm investigation, "ahh, I don't recall". We will never get any satisfaction from this Benghazi investigation because they will stonewall till we all loose interest.
Von Mises Jr| 12.17.12 @ 9:30AM
In the short-term you are correct. Bill Clinton ignored the first WTC bombing for the most part and failed to adequately respond to the bombing of the Cole. No real prosecutions occurred and no one seemed to care. You can run, but you cannot hide. Then POW, 9/11/2001.
While I am not predicting the end of the World in four days, I think the American people are in for a rough road ahead. They re-elected the man whom claimed "we are the ones we have been waiting for." I'll stick with the real "Our God and Savior."
SUBVET| 12.17.12 @ 11:49AM
Tim............may I add all this while Miss Hillary is resting after fainting, and suffering a concussion. Per the media.....no further details were immediatly available.
News flash.....The House Foreign Affairs Committee also said Mss Bill would no longer give scheduled testimony at its hearing thursday on Libya....no sh*t.
Now we are in gun control mode so all the other important items..FF & Benghazi get a pass.
Appleby| 12.17.12 @ 7:17AM
Back in the day, people like this killer would have been institutionalized at an early age, which would have prevented this crime being committed by this would-be killer. My Dad was a milk inspector and one of the farms he visited was attached to the State Hospital, where such people were under lock and key. I believe it was Kennedy who threw open the doors, promising community based services that never materialized; many of those let loose had nowhere to go, as their families did not want them back, if they had any families that could be traced, and they were incapable of looking after themselves. The streets are now clogged with the homeless mentally ill, parents search desperately for help for their damaged children, and this sort of crime continues to occur...because the one thing that would help the most cannot be done. Lock.Them.Up.
Nancy in NC| 12.17.12 @ 8:10AM
The feel good, emotion riddled left would never lock up the crazed. After all, it's their "right" to get out there and terrorize the rest of us.
It would be interesting to know what kind of drugs this kid was taking. After all, about one third of all kids in school are taking something to control them. Most people know that anti-pschotic drugs are potentially explosive, but Ritalin is given out like candy in Pez dispensers to a bunch of kids who can't behave like the rest of society.
There are lots of avenues that need to be explored. Will it happen? I doubt it. Gun control is so much more fun. And after all, it's really not about the guns, but the control.
Alan| 12.17.12 @ 8:44AM
You think leftists whose policies have created this amoral spiritual wasteland are going to take responsibility for any of it?
Stephie| 12.17.12 @ 9:01AM
Miss Nicole, you really believe obama was choking back tears? Really?
He stood there last night and pushed his marxist agenda FORWARD while the parents of the dead in the audience wept. A sickening and despicable man.
Pecos Pete| 12.17.12 @ 9:19AM
"A sickening and despicable man." Your statement deserves repeating many times.
Tina B| 12.17.12 @ 9:28AM
Yes. Unspeakable evil. I am mortified. Such hypocrisy is beyond belief. When I heard he was crying, for a moment I too thought it was real. But only for a moment. The bile rose within me. I couldn't watch. I was sickened.
Tina B| 12.17.12 @ 9:54AM
I visited my old workplace yesterday, my middle school in the heart of the Land that Disney built in central Florida. I hadn't heard of the atrocity yet. It didn't look like my excolleagues had either. I will say that when I went into one dean's office, where the "leadership" team was gathered, the under-30 year old principal looked mighty pleased with herself. I saw her look to see if I had a sticky ID on as I was supposed to, as a guest. I had worked there since '82, and felt no need to enter thru the front door and get a sticker when I could avoid it. It always delayed me and I ran into admin or faculty I had no desire to see and schmooze with. I've only been gone for 1 school year, they all know me so I justify this easily. But I had been on campus for over an hour and neither admin had caught me without my ID. I sensed this bothered her and I assume the snarky little model-principal who had risen to power in just 6 years in our county, and with only 4 actually in a classroom and all at our school. Nothing to write about there either. But now she administrates at the county's toughest M.S. How does that happen. No experience, no awards, no evidence of leadership ability or people skills. Just a little Yes-woman on duty do do the will of those in power in the Ed Community.
Could a shooter have gotten on campus and done what the lunatic in CT did. Absolutely. No gun laws would have mattered.
Tina B| 12.17.12 @ 9:59AM
What I meant to say after I assumed. . . I assumed she notified her leadership team (the 2 admin and anyone who sucks up enough to be considered the in-crowd) of the missing sticky ID on that old rogue teacher, and that it better not happen again.
I have a funny feeling it may.
FUCKtheNRA| 12.17.12 @ 2:14PM
Are you gun nuts, and right wingers happy? This is the America you helped create. Land of the paranoid, untreated, and to-the-teeth armed. First, if you ever lobbied for looser guns laws, or are a member of the NRA, I hope you feel guilty. Two, I hope you reconsider your ridiculous views. And three, try to make a difference by helping to ban military type weapons and clips from being made and sold in America.
And God help America.
spike59| 12.18.12 @ 6:21AM
If ANYONE is enjoying this atrocity, it's the Left; here's the opportunity to wave the bloody shirt and take advantage of a 'good crisis' you can't 'let go to waste'...thanks to liberal policies, we have loons turned loose on the streets, enjoying their ACLU right to be unmedicated...thanks to liberal policies, we have 'gun-free zones' which are being used OVER AND OVER as hunting grounds for these sickos, and thanks to liberal 'thought', there's really no such thing as right or wrong, moral or immoral, but mere 'lifestyle choices'
First, if you're one of those sick bastiges who are dancing on the corpses of tiny kids to advance your political agenda, you need to take a good long look at yourself-your sick mind IS the problem.
Second, I hope you get an education as to what IS and ISN'T a 'miltary style weapon', and reflect on the fact that the only people who obey ANY gun laws are those who DON'T commit violent crimes
Third, try to make a difference by addressing the real issues facing us; the fact that too many of our citizens feel that others are not worthy of life, and that too many of our children are being 'raised' in broken homes and a society where the concepts of personal responsibility, consequences for bad behavior, and the existence of evil are considered 'quaint', 'old-fashioned', and politically incorrect