Yesterday, once again, our National Ensign was flying at half staff. This is happening at an alarming rate. The saddest part about it is that it is warranted, and not just an overreaction to an event. At what point will our national conscience awaken. Is there anything that can be done ? I am not convinced that there is. The mental instability of a person and there choices can only be guessed at and not predicted. Banning the sale of firearms will not stop this. Criminals do not obey the law ! Firearms are available for a price, always have been and always will be. Cocaine and other drugs are illegal and banned yet " surprisingly " still being sold.
I do think the media needs to stop exploiting these tragic events for ratings. Report the event. To devote hours of " in depth " coverage and speculation does nothing but increase the fear level and inspire others to act. On this mornings coverage of the Navy yard shooting the media is now blaming the military for this. This shooter had mental issues and they should have done more screening ! The fault has been shifted from the actual perpetrator to another entity. Wouldn't want to make an individual accountable for their actions, now would we ? It is not his fault, he was mentally ill. But deny him access or opportunity and cite his mental condition and see how fast the Government gets sued ! Already the Veterans Administration is catching some grief because he supposedly applied for help from them.
It is a fine line between freedom and oppression. The old , " you can't cry fire in a movie theater " scenario. Just where and how do we decide where to draw that line. It is an age old dilemma. The conservatives vs the Liberals. I don't feel as though we can continue on our present course. We have become so liberal in our interpretation of freedom, that it is becoming restrictive. Restrictive to good law and order. Just as you can not allow children to just run a muck, so it should be with the general population. It is however a dangerous and slippery path. What behaviors are acceptable and what are not ? The general trend has been, everything goes, in recent years. Our social conscience has undergone some major shifts in the last fifty years or so. In our arrogance we tend to feel as though we have improved and become more enlightened. In some areas I would say that is true and in others, not so much.
I have no answers. I am just another citizen appalled at these events. I am looking for answers where there are none. I do not hear anything constructive being said. I do hear those that wish to use these events to advance there own agendas. I see the media using these events to promote their ratings. Can a made for TV movie be far behind ? My only thoughts are that we need to hold those accountable for their actions up to public scrutiny. Label them for what they are, and punish them. Make as little public spectacle about these aberrations in civilized behavior as possible.
I do think the media needs to stop exploiting these tragic events for ratings. Report the event. To devote hours of " in depth " coverage and speculation does nothing but increase the fear level and inspire others to act. On this mornings coverage of the Navy yard shooting the media is now blaming the military for this. This shooter had mental issues and they should have done more screening ! The fault has been shifted from the actual perpetrator to another entity. Wouldn't want to make an individual accountable for their actions, now would we ? It is not his fault, he was mentally ill. But deny him access or opportunity and cite his mental condition and see how fast the Government gets sued ! Already the Veterans Administration is catching some grief because he supposedly applied for help from them.
It is a fine line between freedom and oppression. The old , " you can't cry fire in a movie theater " scenario. Just where and how do we decide where to draw that line. It is an age old dilemma. The conservatives vs the Liberals. I don't feel as though we can continue on our present course. We have become so liberal in our interpretation of freedom, that it is becoming restrictive. Restrictive to good law and order. Just as you can not allow children to just run a muck, so it should be with the general population. It is however a dangerous and slippery path. What behaviors are acceptable and what are not ? The general trend has been, everything goes, in recent years. Our social conscience has undergone some major shifts in the last fifty years or so. In our arrogance we tend to feel as though we have improved and become more enlightened. In some areas I would say that is true and in others, not so much.
I have no answers. I am just another citizen appalled at these events. I am looking for answers where there are none. I do not hear anything constructive being said. I do hear those that wish to use these events to advance there own agendas. I see the media using these events to promote their ratings. Can a made for TV movie be far behind ? My only thoughts are that we need to hold those accountable for their actions up to public scrutiny. Label them for what they are, and punish them. Make as little public spectacle about these aberrations in civilized behavior as possible.
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