I didn't write about the terrible mass killing at a Buffalo supermarket and I decided I wouldn't reflect on the murder of school children in Texas either. This sort of carnage has become so commonplace in the United States of Guns that it would be next to impossible to keep up. How often can we adequately express our horror and incomprehension about a nation which has become a death cult?
Yet I was awake in the early hours thinking about the innocent primary school kids who died. Yesterday we got photos of our grades one and three grandchildren happily showing off school projects in their excellent school. That was contrasted with the picture of one of the Texas schoolchildren, beaming after receiving an award the morning she died in a hail of bullets fired from a military-grade weapon purchased by an 18-year-old. When I saw her sweet face I wanted to weep.
In a news conference the governor of Texas spoke about the evil of the perpetrator and how evil had swept across the state as a result of what had transpired. There was no recognition of the evil of virtually non-existent gun restrictions in Texas, and in other states, despite mass killings in schools, places of worship, concerts, grocery stores. This same governor will be speaking at a National Rifle Association convention in his state this weekend. The NRA is simply evil.
The bible speaks often about evil although it is rarely defined. In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus teaches his followers a prayer in which God is asked to deliver us from evil and also instructs them not to repay evil with evil. We understand that individuals can engage in evil but it is also systemic, enabling those who do violence against the vulnerable and innocent, making the wrong seem right.
It was an evil act to kill those children and their teachers. It is evil to worship weapons as though they are gods, no matter the consequences. It is evil to do nothing to end the destruction, then make pious noises about praying for victims. There is a stench to these statements by those who can make a difference which must be offensive to God.
Jesus, deliver us from falsehood. Deliver us from the evil of our violent natures.
2 comments:
I don't get it. Mass shooting after mass shooting, and nothing ever changes. Twenty seven school shootings in the States so far this year - and it's only May!
Just watched Jimmy Kimmel's 8 minute pre-show talk about the horrific shooting. He very eloquently pointed his finger at the gutless politicians who are cozy with the NRA. Hard not to tear up watching a tearful Kimmel who showed his frustration with these politicians.
I'm not knowledgeable about the American political system, but it seemed that Trump was able to do anything he wanted unchallenged, yet neither Obama or Biden - both of whom have had mass shootings under their watch - seem to be able to take action.
Thanks Roger. Coach Steve Kerr of the Golden State Warriors also offered a powerful perspective on this situation and gun control. I agree that it's stunning that no one seems able to address the idolatry of gun worship in the US.
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