When You Think About It: In Our Own Best Interest

Words and photo by F LoBuono

Indulge me (and forgive me, Mr.Shakespeare), if you please:

Friends. Americans. Countrymen. Lend me your ears. . . your hearts, your minds, and your very souls.

I fear for the fate of our Country and the world. The irrational forces of evil are marshaling and, perhaps, winning. They are poised to strike not only from afar, but from within our own society itself. The world seems as if it is being consumed by hate on every level. Where we once seemed mostly immune, we are again thrust into the very center of the maelstrom.

The voices of reason and compassion are being drowned out by those of hate and terror. Logic and prudence have been replaced by avarice and execration. Religious fanatics have hijacked their respective faiths, leaving no room for the belief of others. Civil discourse has been supplanted by anonymous Internet blather.

Fear and loathing reigns!

Once again, America has been stung by wanton violence. The latest mass murder in San Bernadino, Ca. raised a whole host of issues plaguing us AND the world at large. First, there is the issue of terrorism. We have not been spared the horror that has affected many of our European allies. This, despite the fact that one of the terrorists was American born, has, once again, raised mostly irrational fears of refugee migration from the war-torn Middle East. The knee jerk reaction, fueled by the GOP candidates for President and led most loudly by Donald Trump, is to hold an entire culture and religion responsible for the acts of the minority. This is not to say there is NOT an issue with radical Islam. There is. And, it is significant. However, when we fall victim to the darker angels of our nature and blame ALL, we do nothing to solve the problem. In fact, we exacerbate it by doing EXACTLY what our enemies hoped we would do - create a whole new generation of disenfranchised people, eager to join "the Dark Side".

Second, and, perhaps, the most "American" issue raised was that of Gun Control. As has been the case in the aftermath of the seemingly endless spate of mass shootings, the debate over guns and what place they have in our society rages. From the research that I have conducted, it appears to me that most Americans favor changes in the current gun control laws. These changes include:

• closing the so-called loop holes found in purchasing weapons at gun shows
• banning certain ammunition that is particularly deadly
• restricting access to "assault style" weapons
• banning high capacity magazines. 

Again, from my research, I DO NOT find that Americans support a total BAN on weapons, nor have I found ANY evidence that the government intends to take anyone's guns away! Despite this, the gun fanatics, led by the NRA, refuse to even consider ANY compromise, hiding behind THEIR interpretation of the 2nd Amendment. Frankly, I find their zeal nothing short of frightening. They see shadowy government figures lurking in dark offices waiting for the opportunity to come and get their guns. I see that as paranoia. Any move at sensible compromise is seen as the first step in the eradication of a dearly held American tradition and RIGHT -  to bear arms.

Now, given that right, and I will "give" it (for what that's worth), I still don't understand our OBSESSION with guns AND violence. And, they are inextricably linked. The ultimate goal in the use of a gun, whether in hunting, protection, or policing, produces violence - something/someone is going to be likely killed or injured - good guy or bad. That's the ultimate reality of a firearm. So, why do we WORSHIP them? They seem to be part of our collective consciousness. I have written many times on this blog that virtually every conflict we see on TV. the movies, or in electronic games is solved at the end of a gun. And, we LOVE it.

And, it's even more than that. Our obsession with guns and violence is almost sexual in nature. Many seem to experience a type of sexual satisfaction in the power that comes with possessing a weapon. A scrawny boy with a Glock .40 ain't so weak any more. And, he wants the world to know it. It's almost an extension of his dick! I suppose that seems to explain why the GREAT majority of gun violence is carried out by men.

Some gun enthusiasts have even argued with me over minutia like the difference between fully- automatic and semi-automatic when the only important detail is that the weapon is a powerful killing machine. They are blinded by their allegiance to their cause.

I, for one, am not interested in taking away anyone's guns. And, I am not longer willing to debate the 2nd Amendment. That genie is long out of the bottle. I also DO NOT believe that we can ERADICATE gun violence. Violence, unfortunately, is as much a part of the human experience as is love. However, I DO believe that there are ways to minimize that violence. I gave some practical steps highlighted above.

But, I also believe that there is more that we can do. These things are of a more ethereal nature because they require a change in heart. All the laws in the world can't stop people with hate in their hearts. We must find the courage to reject hate and accept the power of love. And, it is so damned hard to do! We fear that if we allow ourselves to be kind, others will take advantage. This is human nature. That's why it is DIVINE to attempt to live this way. It is an effort to elevate our consciousness to a higher plane of existence. THIS is the goal of ALL spirituality. And, if it were easy, we'd all be saved! But, we must try.

For hate it a beast that only gets stronger when we feed it more hate.

As most of my readers know, my favorite Super Hero character is The Incredible Hulk. I relate to the fact the he is a mostly misunderstood brute. Be that as it may, there is one thing about the character that has relevance to our conversation. The more hate and anger your hurl at him the more powerful he becomes. It only feeds the beast. So, it is in life. Hate is like a living thing and it needs to be fed. It is nourished by ignorance, intolerance, bigotry, sexism, and greed. Anger and hate never rewards or heals. It ONLY creates more of the same, only worse. It's the proverbial "Catch-22".

When You Think About It, it is in our own best advantage to practice compassion and mindfulness. The alternative is a circular road to ruin.