It's Raining Violence (but the 7 day can be brighter)

 The Weather Girls sang about it raining men in 1982 and since then there have been more mass shootings by overzealous, insecure men in America  then there have been negative Ghostbuster III comments by, I'm assuming those same men.

 Over this weekend news sprang up again about another senseless, tragic loss of life resulting in yet another confused man unleashing his inner rage to innocent people, who were dancing.

As a human being, a victim of gun violence myself, and as a parent  I was still in shock. I know I shouldn't be. I know I should be used to this by now considering there are more mass shootings in this country then live Dave Matthews and Grateful Dead bootleg albums.

Jimmy Fallon spoke from my heart, Samantha Bee spoke from my anger.

I'm not going to comment on the obvious. The need for some sensible, reasonable  gun control and limits for people who would do harm to others. Or banning certain weapons that most military members say shouldn't be in the hands of civilians. We don't trust Kim Jong Ill tempered with Nuclear weapons, but we trust the Kims, the family with three felony counts and a history of violence to have, by right, a gun.

One thing's for certain, we all know Michael Moore has a lot more bowling to do.

We don't give drivers licesnes to people who can't see, yet, when an instrument whose primary purpose is to kill or harm is under consideration, we have no problem letting them have it.

"Make sure you sign pages one and two before your waiting period. I'm sorry what am I talking about? Here you go. The safety is off. Now it says here you had a case of domestic violence? Was that a thrash metal band you were in?"

I digress.  

No, as the late great Tim Russert said, "All politics is local." I would add, so is violence. And ignorance, hate, complacency, and fear are it's ugly step brother waiting in the wings for us to do, nothing.

In other words, violence affects all of us as Americans, no matter where we call home.

Consider that just four years ago the Seattle area experienced a school shooting in Marrysville

This was a case that didn't fit into the mass shooting narrative. The shooter was popular. He was  homecoming king. Destryoing the notion that only 'lone wolfs' and those who feel marginalized or depressed are the cause for violence is as myopic as saying bipolar is the cause.

 And yet that ever burning question remains,

Why? Why do people go to these lengths?

In Seattle's Jungle encampment two kids murdered two people

Then there's the Seattle Pacific University shooting

Violence around Seattle, like the rest of America, is as omnipresent as the grey clouds. It's bright and sunny one day, and the next they roll in.

"And let's look at the five day. On Tuesday we are going to warm up but ouch, looks like Wednesday is going to bring a hail of bullets, might want to have the kids wear a bullet proof vest at the bus stop. Now here's Chuck with sports."

What makes this world so sick and evil? We need to figure it out.

Seattle's LGBTQ community has come out in full force to not only show solidaridy with the victim's of the lastest act of terror, but to remind folks across the nation, that it starts with accepting people for who they are.

On June 12th SeattlePrideFest's Facebook page had a candlelight vigil at Cal Anderson Park were many people spoke up about the continuous for acceptance under the face of fear.

John Parks, a transgenderd man from Queen Anne said,

"Let us remember every single person in this country who was attacked by being who they were. And let us not end, (as contradictory as it sounds) the loving fight for justice and peace."

As I've grown older, I'm still a dreamer and an idealist but lately I'm trying a more pragmatic approach, as in, how do we get things done? How do we drastically deter this violence?

Sadly, this country found out the hard way that the executiton of  20 something  school children was grounds to do absolutely nothing despite overwhelming support by most Americans for sensible, reasonable gun control.

You can thank the National Rifle Association for that blockage.

Since Congress has decided not to act because they're in bed with the NRA more times then John Lennon did a bed in for his piece in 1969 Amsterdam.

I'm sorry? Oh, he wasn't advocating for guns?
What about happiness is a warm gun?
Oh, it's a joke about how people feel happy shooting?
Wait, he died?!? How?
....stop!
The Catcher In the Rye?!....................................................

All of my heroes have died by gun bullets. JFK. RFK. MLK. MALCOLM X, GHANDI, LENNON.........Oh we can go on and on.

How?

Well we could rally, petition our government, and go through the nessessarry channels. We should do this and I'm not saying not to.

But I have a different approach:

Talking to our children, our friends who have children, our young people (you know the people who politicains call the future) about loving and accepting people.

We need to change this mindset that says your kid's problems are your problems. Snitches wind up in ditches. Out of sight, out of  mind.

How about that guns are (at the very leasty) a neccessary evil instead of this cool toy to be used when you want to.  (Assuming guns are here to stay).

If we are all Orlando, Sandy Hoook, Fort Hood, Charleston, then we owe them more then lip service.

The enemy is not those who own guns, it's those who own ignorance and hate.

Perhaps we can take advice from one of our greatest presidents who might know something about gun violence,

"We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection."

We need to start opening up our eyes and ears to people who are struggling with depression and think violence is their only outlet,  starting as early as when they're in grade school.

And I don't mean to single out depressed people. In fact, most if not all depressed people know that killing innocent people is wrong. I know this, and I used to be depressed for a 1/3 of my life.

I'm sorry but not sorry. Not only can I  not imagine the pain and suffering the familes of all these tradgedies are going through but to find out maybe there was a way we could have stepped in drives me crazy. I know bad people will  find a way to do bad things. But that's the thing. What if we could stop them by intervening when our gut told us something was amiss?

(like the fifth installment of the Police Academy Series.) **I'm sorry but Tackelberry had no character arc.)

No baby is born into this world thinking to itself  it is going to mow done 50 people in a hail of bullets. Like racism, this hate and violence is learned.

Now we can paint a broad brush and blame society. But aren't we society?

I mean it doesn't take Michael Jackson to look in the mirror and start there.

A healthy loving dialogue about guns in this country. A healthy loving dialogue about accepting others and not using violence as a way to get your anger across.

Notice that all these mass shooters have a common theme? They're all prodominately men?

Maybe we have a talk with our sons about how the term masculinity and how it's  been hijacked by Hollywood to mean a gun toting, testoerone fueled superman who installs fear, instead of practicing kindness?

That it's ok and neccssary to talk about your feelings. That you're not alone.

That crying is strength, but causing other's to cry is not.

This is not excusing anybody's behavior, rather showcasing what we as Americans can be doing right now, today.

Have you ever heard actors, atheletes and various celebrities thank certain adults for their success in accepting an award? We often hear when things are great for people, the people they'd like to thank.

This is important and necessary.

Never heard are the countless adults who have stepped up to prevent what we would never know is another tradgedy.

I'm sick and tired of feeling helpless.

Boys won't just be boys. Boys to Men wasn't just a great R&B group, they were showcasing that they've evolved. This isn't the new normal. My wife and I didn't bring a life into this world for her to accept that gun violence is the way we solve depression, anger, jealousy, fear.

Talking is. Not being afraid. Letting our light shine so that others know it's ok.

So as you pray, and as you reflect on the victims and the victims of every senseless act of violence ask yourself, "What in my day today can I bring to the discussion with love?" How can I influence the next generation of Americans for them to know that love conquers hate?
 If you're a Christian you know that simply praying to God to fix this is not enough. You need to work. If you need to stand your ground, know that your savior said to put your piece away. And take up peace.

Likewise, if you're Muslim you know that to kill one person is to 'kill all mankind.' (6:151)

Buddhists know that life is suffering, and that to actively contribute to that is the worst karma one can bring.

Atheists and agnostics and other religious peoples  know that murder is morally and ethically  abhorrent.

All these people are unique. All these people have a voice. And all these people are Americans.


 So how can our light come shining from the west on to the east?

I'll ask myself what I can do. When will we be released from this violence  America? This isn't the Last Waltz we will have on the topic.

But, any day now, any day now....We shall be released