This week I will be posting twice. My regular post and one in response to the shootings in Aurora, CO.
First of all I want to say that my heart goes out to the surivors and to the families of the victims. I can only imagine the devastation you must feel.
We all are asking what brought this young man to do something so desperate?
I watched CNN yesterday and the interview between Mr. Pierce and Michael Moore. There were deep questions asked about American Society. Comparisons were made with other countries who have hardly any gun-violence even though their children too watch violent movies and play violent games. The difference alone, it appeared in this discussion, was that those countries do not allow handguns in the possession of its citizens. It will be difficult to convince American people to let go of their sacred cow - their guns.
After the shooting, the pro gun National Rifle Association (NRA) encouraged citizens to get guns for protection. Indeed the gun registration (acc. to the discussion between Pierce and Moore) went up.
The question is, can guns really protect us? Especially when our tempers are so easily flaring? Obviously getting more guns is a reaction to a great inner fear....."we are at risk" or even a greater fear: "I don't want to die." And if our survival is at stake, we move into fight and flight mode.....maybe a normal response but I am not convinced that it is a good time to add more weapons.
My thought on this matter is that if there is a privilege, with it must come also responsibility. In the United States we have the privilege to carry and own a gun. But since this is a deadly weapon we have also a great responsibility. First I think a gun should only be in possession of a person who can prove to have a fairly even temper, and persons who have learned self control and discipline.
But the problem is, that these are not things our children in the USA are easily learning. Our children are constantly bombarded to want and eventually get their every whim instantly gratified. That forfeits the necessity of learning discipline and making sacrifices which will more likely lead to self control. Many grow into ....holics and into persons out of control and prone to addictions. Then you give guns to a people who have not learned control and what do we get?
At the same time there is a major decline in the belief in God and church attendance and an equally major decline in the arts. What is the difference between other countries and us?
European countries cherish and cultivate the arts - a major difference to the USA (not only that they don't have guns). In the Opera house in Graz, Austria there is a saying carved into the concrete: "WITH THE ARTS A NATION SHALL RISE, WITHOUT IT A NATION SHALL FALL." (vaguely translated)
We vaguely give lip service to the fact that art therapy is helpful to people - I am not sure we quite believe it.
I myself paint and make music and in my darkest hours, when I couldn't even pray, it got me through my difficult times. I strongly believe that the arts are a gift from God, and in their own way are a prayer from the heart when words fail. It is besides my faith and family, the most important thing in my life.
In the USA we have been cutting the arts in the schools. I have heard of Symphonies having to close down, and if there are performances, they are so expensive that only the wealthier population can afford to attend. This trend is not helpful to us.
In our ignorance we think we can do without the arts and without our faith - but can we?
Now contrary to what you might believe of a Christian minister, I am not going to make you feel guilty. Making you feel guilty and pressuring you into a belief would only make you end up in a different kind of fear, the fear that God will zap you. We don't need more fear. But I invite you to ask the question: Where does our safety truly lie? All I can tell you is that God loves his /her people. God is merciful and forgives our transgressions. If you are a Christian, remember Christ died for you because he so loved the world.
If you are not, I can only pray that you will experience God's mercy through either others or some sort of miracle in your life. Only through experience can we know that God is. That experience cannot be forced. It comes when it comes.
For those who don't like religious talk look at it this way:
Would you do unto yourself the things you do unto others. If you have to say no, then you might need to change a few things. If we want others to treat us kindly, we must treat them kindly. We think sometimes that others must change, but really it always starts with us.
And all this talk about safety in God and God's love may not seem to do much for the survivors or the relatives of the victims. It seems as if the incident disproves my claim. There is loss and shock and certainly no feeling of safety.
But maybe we have the privilege to take a deeper look and hopefully find that not only a young man, but a whole society is at fault. Maybe we have been called to awaken from our self centered "bottom line -dream walk." Self awareness is a gift and a good start for change.
God is not responsible for our actions.....we are not puppets, we have free will. In spite of our free will actions.....God does loves each and everyone. In God's unconditional love we find our safety.
Here are some exercises and suggestions:
1. Get paper, markers, or coloring pencils and a notebook to write in. Especially if your are panicked or suffer from anxiety, use those tools and let the steam off.....and be honest about your emotions. It does wonders!
2. If you are a person of faith and need to make sense of your life and the world, you could talk to a priest, pastor, Imam or Rabbi or appropriate faith leader. Besides, prayer works wonders. If you are not a member of a faith community, you may want to consider joining one. You might consult a counselor....but if you don't want to do either of these things....consider #3
3. Engage in random acts of kindness. Helping others helps us to get over our own fears and frustrations.....and it creates a better world.
© 2012 Angelika Mitchell
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