Time for new leadership?
I have noted that nationwide a number of young people are running for office this year. I am delighted to see that students who were directly and indirectly affected by the shooting at Parkland High School determined to have a voice in the relationship this nation has with guns, gun manufacturers, and gun lobbyists. I am very hopeful that they can keep a positive message while making it clear they want to be the voice that helps to move closer to the end of mass murders.
Those who have a vested personal, political and/or financial interest in the manufacture, sale and ownership of guns will, once again, insist that guns do not kill, people do. That is one of those true statements, which sounds as if it means something but which entirely misses the point. The point it misses is that healthy people do not whip out a gun every time they are hurt, sad, angry, or want to prove a point. Healthy people and nations are committed to finding non-violent solutions to dealing with mental illness, anger, grief, differences of opinion and other conflicts.
If we adults cannot or will not model non-violent solutions, then it is time to turn over the reigns of power to our young people.
I read in the local newspaper that the main issues facing those responsible for dealing with the Parkland shooter, Nikolas Jacob Cruz is whether he will spend life in prison or face the death sentence. Really! Does it make any sense to respond to a violent act with violence? We would like Nikolas and all the other troubled people of all ages in our society to deal with their issues non-violently. Yet, what we model is that when one is having a difficult time emotionally/mentally, just angry or if one does not like the behavior of another person or country, one should whip out a gun(s) (and other weapons of mass destruction) and start shooting or, as in the case with North Korea, threaten to bomb them.
It is ironic that in this country we just finished celebrating the work of Martin Luther King, Jr. who was killed in a non-violent fight to create a more just world. Yet, at the very same time we have a more intimate, trusting relationship with our guns than we do with each other.
If the focus is finding non- violent solutions for all of us to use than we need leaders with the courage of the Martins Luther Kings, Juniors of the world. Perhaps some of the young people running for office can join the students of Parkland to take over the leadership of this country.
Hats off to all those young people and even some of us older folks who are willing to take on the responsibility of offering positive solutions to how all of us can live together. Part of that solution is compassionate and competent mental health care, appropriate diagnosis and treatment of kids and adults who are not doing well - not just discarding them or putting them to fester or rot in jail -, more effective support of law enforcement using non-lethal tools, and less reliance on bully, violent leadership on the world stage.
Written February 19, 2018
I have noted that nationwide a number of young people are running for office this year. I am delighted to see that students who were directly and indirectly affected by the shooting at Parkland High School determined to have a voice in the relationship this nation has with guns, gun manufacturers, and gun lobbyists. I am very hopeful that they can keep a positive message while making it clear they want to be the voice that helps to move closer to the end of mass murders.
Those who have a vested personal, political and/or financial interest in the manufacture, sale and ownership of guns will, once again, insist that guns do not kill, people do. That is one of those true statements, which sounds as if it means something but which entirely misses the point. The point it misses is that healthy people do not whip out a gun every time they are hurt, sad, angry, or want to prove a point. Healthy people and nations are committed to finding non-violent solutions to dealing with mental illness, anger, grief, differences of opinion and other conflicts.
If we adults cannot or will not model non-violent solutions, then it is time to turn over the reigns of power to our young people.
I read in the local newspaper that the main issues facing those responsible for dealing with the Parkland shooter, Nikolas Jacob Cruz is whether he will spend life in prison or face the death sentence. Really! Does it make any sense to respond to a violent act with violence? We would like Nikolas and all the other troubled people of all ages in our society to deal with their issues non-violently. Yet, what we model is that when one is having a difficult time emotionally/mentally, just angry or if one does not like the behavior of another person or country, one should whip out a gun(s) (and other weapons of mass destruction) and start shooting or, as in the case with North Korea, threaten to bomb them.
It is ironic that in this country we just finished celebrating the work of Martin Luther King, Jr. who was killed in a non-violent fight to create a more just world. Yet, at the very same time we have a more intimate, trusting relationship with our guns than we do with each other.
If the focus is finding non- violent solutions for all of us to use than we need leaders with the courage of the Martins Luther Kings, Juniors of the world. Perhaps some of the young people running for office can join the students of Parkland to take over the leadership of this country.
Hats off to all those young people and even some of us older folks who are willing to take on the responsibility of offering positive solutions to how all of us can live together. Part of that solution is compassionate and competent mental health care, appropriate diagnosis and treatment of kids and adults who are not doing well - not just discarding them or putting them to fester or rot in jail -, more effective support of law enforcement using non-lethal tools, and less reliance on bully, violent leadership on the world stage.
Written February 19, 2018
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