Violent Times

The occurrence of multiple homicides at the hand of a lone gunman seem to be getting more and more frequent. ABC news, in Friday’s World News telecast, stated that 53 mass shootings had occurred within the past month. Something’s amiss, folks, and it’s high time to get our arms around it.

The authorities would have us believe that each and every shooter is a whack job that has gone off the deep end. I think we can all agree that the deep end has, in fact, been left behind, but I have a problem with the whackiness factor. Those that would have us believe that everything is normal, except for our gunman du jour, are serving nothing more than their own best interests. To declare a deeper, more troubling message implying that there are societal forces at work might lead the general population to question the status quo and we simply cannot afford to risk that, can we? (“We” being those same powers-that-be that have risen to their positions of authority through that same status quo.)

Look back over the last few days, or weeks, and think of how many meaningful conversations you’ve had with anyone at all. By “meaningful”, I mean something other than, “How ya doin?” and by “conversation”, I mean exactly that: verbal communication (preferably in person, but I’ll accept a phone call). Not many, I’d say, because we simply do not take the time required for such activity or turn away from the chance based on fears of reprisal. Many of us work in cubicles while others telecommute. Others drive to work alone and get home at an hour that prevents them from jawing with the neighbor over the back fence. But still, there are opportunities, aren’t there? The company lunch room, public transit, waiting for the light to change at the street corner. Not much talking going on there anymore, is there? No, because we’ve all become afraid of the very same whack job that went to work last week and shot up the office. Throw in the potential for political incorrectness and you’ve got the perfect recipe for silence. It’s safer you know. That way no one gets pissed off. So we’re now left alone with our thoughts and have little chance of validating our hopes and fears by comparing notes with our neighbors, be they co-workers, the guy next door, or another passenger on the bus. And without that validation, we lose the strength of our convictions.

Historically, the “system” has saved us from desperation. The ability to address inequities in the workplace, legal recourse, and social programs have prevented many from proceeding to that point of no return where suicide is one’s last and seemingly best option. But the system is broken. Corporate immorality removes the hope of timely resolution among employees. The courts are backlogged to the point where potential success is outweighed by the time and money required to achieve it. And other forms of social safety nets are badly frayed in terms of budgets and manpower.

So we end up with someone who has lost conviction and self assurance through isolation and a system that fails to address valid concerns. The perfect storm of desperation. No faith, no hope, and no chance of justice. Ludicrous becomes logic; sanity seems silly. And this level of desperation has often led to suicide. That’s nothing new, but now the name of the game is to take someone with you on your way out. What’s up with that?

Take one person who has lost all faith in the system, themselves, and any people once-dear to the heart. There is no reason to try any longer because the only outcome will be failure, so let’s just end it all. Add to that the 21st century motto of “it must be someone else’s fault” and, bingo, you’ve got a recipe for mass murder. “My life sucks. My boss just fired me. My wife just left me. It ain’t my fault so it must be their fault and if I’m going down, they’re going down, too.” Not a pretty picture, is it? Well, I didn’t try to paint one, either.

So how do we climb out of this box? Well, for one thing, we make the attempt to enter into meaningful dialogue with any one at any time. We worry less about offending and care more about sharing thoughts and ideas. And we get involved in keeping an eye on whatever powers-that-be suit our fancy (god knows there’re enough to go around). We regain that conviction that kept one sane foot on the floor in trying times and hold other feet to the fire for failing to maintain the various and sundry support systems we all need at some point in our lives.

And, if we can do that to some degree, we might just lose that sense of isolation, take on a bit of accountability, and turn the corner towards a more involved and self-assured society. Will there still be public massacres? Probably, but I’d say the inclination to resort to such extreme measures would diminish as higher levels of faith, hope, and confidence were attained.