The last thing a neglectful blog owner wants to come back writing about is a horrific school shooting. Like many of you I was stunned at what was reported The idea that a person would target children is so shocking it took me until now to even attempt to talk about it.
I am not sure if what I have to say will be worded just right, or even if it will make any sense, I just know that I have to say something.
I have been open about my feelings on gun control in the past, and do not wish to repeat them here. The truth is, the easy legal access to large capacity weapons is only one of many issues that need to be talked about. One of these other issues that is getting more recognized in recent years is mental illness. Less than 1/3 of people who have a mental illness are receiving any treatment. Mental illness is protected under the American's with Disabilities Act, but these people are the most likely to be under served by programs that could help them. Many programs that help children do not help them once they turn 18. Most of the reason for this is that mental illness, and those who live with one, is still seen as a weakness of character. The negative stigma keeps people from seeking help for themselves or their children. Spending on treatment programs is not even close to keeping up with the need for them.
I am under qualified to discuss this issue, so I will leave it to more informed minds. What I want to talk about is something that is simple in concept, and costs nothing to implement.
I want to talk about compassion. One thing that has been said about all of the shooters this year, is that they were "quiet", "loners", and people "left them alone".
Too often today people are kept at a distance, if they are different. This is what a propose, that we reach out to each other, that we realize that we are all part of the same human family. At a time when family relationships are lost because of political or social views, it might seem impossible to think that we can reach out to people we don't know. This is exactly what we need to do. We need to tell people that it is okay to ask for help, and we need to be there to give all the help that we can. As American's we often reach out in huge and impact full ways AFTER a tragedy, I propose that we reach out to each other BEFORE a tragedy.
I am not naive and I second the view of the president, no law or set of laws can prevent all tragedy, but changing how we treat each other is bound to have a major impact.
We can do better, we can pass better laws, and more importantly we can change how we treat each other.
Yes, i agree Aaron. I also think it helps to take the stigma off states of mind or of personality that are less than ecstatic, to share when we have a bummer day or hour or even life. That is, there does seem to be a rule that people should only respond with "fine" when people ask how we are, and we should always focus on the positive, smile no matter how we feel, etc.
ReplyDeleteI think these expectations only sustain the big lie, which in this country and time is that everyone can be, and ought to be, happy all the time. Granted, bitching and moaning gets old, and it's hard to be around it all the time, and if you do it more than you look for the bright side, etc., it's a vicious circle. I'm not "Pro-complaining." It's just that you're right, people are afraid to share how they really feel. Being lonely and alienated is usually just a version of feeling "different." If people realized that NOBODY (well, except a few recognized near-saints) always feels good about themselves, and occasionally or often feels alone in his/er specific complaints... well, i think they would recognize their commonality with the rest of the humans!
It's why we love comedy, when someone stands up and says, "Did you ever feel like... " or "Did you ever have one of those days when..." because we all have.
So, when i am with anybody whom i suspect is not really as happy as s/he says, i often tell her/m of my troubles... just as a subtle suggestion that it's okay for her/m to tell me theirs!
Thanks for the thoughtful post.