Monday, January 10, 2011

Weekend Tragedy

I wanted to post a small note to remark on the recent assassination attempt against Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, and the senseless killing of Federal Judge John M. Roll, which occurred on Saturday, January 8. Even more unspeakable was the very untimely death of Christina Green, who was just nine years old. It is my hope that Gabrielle Giffords survives her ordeal and is able to return to her job as congresswoman with all of her faculties and abilities completely intact. She suffered a terrible head wound and is presently in critical condition. My heart is out to those who were also wounded in the melee, and to the families of the six victims who were killed.

This murder spree was senseless and obviously perpetrated by an individual who is completely deranged and doesn’t represent any particular political or spiritual perspective. This incident, in my opinion, was the product of a lone and sick individual, and isn’t the act of any kind of politically motivated conspiracy, either right wing or left, although some will paint it as such.

The alleged shooter, Jared Loughner had a history of borderline mental illness and socialpathic behavior, but apparently no family member or friend successfully sought to either help him or get him the help of a medical professional. Jered slipped through the cracks of our unevenly applied medical system without being labeled as a man desperately in need of psychiatric help. That made him free to legally purchase a weapon without any stipulations, and he was also able to legally conceal that weapon on the day of the assassination attempt. 

What all of this means is that we as a nation have become less tolerant of different viewpoints, somewhat more inclined to fiery rhetoric and polarizing punditry. We seek to allow the highest degree of freedom in regards to owning and carrying fire arms, but then we are shocked when someone uses one of those fire arms to act out their own internal delusions. This is not the first terrible shooting of a political figure, nor will it be the last. This event will do nothing more than heighten the concerns for the personal safety of the members of our government. It will also add more power to our collective social paranoia and our investment in the escalating need for security and stability. At some point, something will have to give, and either we will succumb to complete anarchy or a rigid and tyrannous police state.

It is my hope that this incident, as tragic and sad as it is, will perhaps begin to get people to push the other way - towards sanity, compassion for others and respectful dialogue. We are all citizens of the same country, members of the same world body and collectively part of the same species. We have more in common with each other than we have issues or ideals that separate us. For some reason, the 21st century has become the time when differences, however great or slight, are the true focus of spiritual and political dialogue. Someday, perhaps, we will realize that all of the differences are small when compared to the greater concerns for our collective well being and the well being of the planet. Will we ever learn to live in peace, tolerance, empathy, forbearance, charity and magnanimity towards all living things on this planet? I truly hope so, with all my heart. Until then, I will continue to meditate and send out my lone true will and desires into the world for such a collective enlightenment to finally occur.

Peace to all of us -

Frater Barrabbas

UPDATE: Then there are some idiots who run a newspaper and tell their audience that the shooter was an occultist instead of just a disturbed young man. You can thank the New York Daily News for this tabloid quality article. It's just despicable!

1 comment:

  1. Thank you Frater for this dose of sanity and compassion. The shock waves of this tragedy reach even to Australia and I am very glad of your words.

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